Autumn is here. It’s getting cold, it’s getting dark and leaves are falling from the trees. As summer fades you can afford to start winding down your daily gardening chores, you can even be forgiven for thinking any planting for next year can wait.
However, the number one way to prepare your garden for next spring is to plant some fantastic early flowering bulbs. In turn you’ll be rewarded with a magnificent display of colour during some of our darker, colder months, full of the promise of warmer and longer days to come.
Bulbs are very easy to grow and are simple to work into any planting scheme or location – whether it’s a sprawling estate or a small courtyard garden. They’re just as happy to grow in containers or borders. So grab your trowel and get ready to pop some bulbs in today.
Here’s our guide to the best spring flowering bulbs for you to plant this autumn.
Daffodils
Planting time – September and October
Flowering Time – February to May
Hardiness – Mostly hardy
Grows in – Sun or light shade
Long considered the heralds of Spring, the daffodil is one of the most widely recognised flowering bulbs on offer. Its beautiful yellow flowers are always a welcome sight wherever they are planted, bringing a cheerful hue to every garden. Daffodils usually grow to be between 5cm (2 inches) and 50cm (20 inches) tall and can thrive even when slightly shaded.
Tulips
Planting time – October to November
Flowering time – March – May
Hardiness – Fully hardy
Grows in – Full sun
Arguably the most popular spring flowering bulb, tulips are a colourful addition to any garden and come in an astonishing range of colours and shapes. This allows you to mix and match different looks to create a unique planting scheme that can be added to year after year. Tulips usually grow to be 15cm (6 inches) to 75cm (30 inches) tall and grow best when exposed to full sun. Try planting en-masse in pots and tubs for bringing a real impact to corners of your garden.
Hyacinths
Planting time – Early Autumn
Flowering time – Spring, but can be forced to flower earlier indoors
Hardiness – Fully hardy in ground but can be frost tender when potted
Grows in – Sun or partial shade
If you are looking for a beautiful bloom with a heady fragrance, then you can’t beat hyacinths. They mostly grow in flower beds, but you can grow heat prepared hyacinths indoors to bloom early for a lovely Christmas display. These bulbs grow tall and slim to around 20-30cm (8-12 inches) with a showy bloom top. If you are looking for a wonderful visual display and amazing scent whenever you walk by, a hyancinth is the perfect choice.
Allium
Planting Time – Autumn
Flowering Time – Spring to mid-Summer
Hardiness – Hardy to borderline hardy
Grows in – Sun
Sometimes called ornamental onions, alliums are a wonderfully architectural bulb. Coming in a range of colours from blues to pinks and whites, they can be worked into any planting scheme to add impact and drama. Even when these plants eventually die back the dried flowers can still be an attractive addition to your outdoor space with their elegant pom pom like heads. These spring flowering bulbs can grow to an astonishing 6 feet tall and are great for attracting pollinators. Their fantastic visual effect really adds the wow factor, making them a staple for many a garden.
Snakes Head Fritillaria
Planting time – Autumn
Flowering Time – April to May
Hardiness – Hardy
Grows in – Sun or semi-shade
Easily recognisable by its distinctive snake-skin markings, the snakes head fritillaria is a bulb that grows a bell-shaped flower in various pinks and purples. These unusual flowers are perfect for filling in gaps in your flower bed thanks to their elegant colour markings and short stature. The average snakes head fritillaria stands at around 30cm (12 inches) and are perfect for accenting areas of your flower bed that need more attention. A beautiful and rare plant that should be on everyone’s essential Spring bulb list.
Make sure your garden is ready for spring by planting your bulbs before the winter chill and wet sets in.
For more garden maintenance advice and help with designing a spring planting scheme please feel free to contact Thames Valley Landscapes on 01628 629720.