Bulb Planting In Autumn

10th October 2024
Uncategorised

Bulb planting in autumn is a rewarding time for gardeners. Put the effort into planting as many bulbs as as you can now and reap the rewards of beautiful flowers come spring. In this blog we explain what to plant, when and why for a healthy garden the following year.

Bulb planting in September and October:

Gardeners World recommend bulb planting in autumn to achieve spring flowers. You can plant some bulbs as early as September, while there’s still some warmth in the soil and time to allow roots to establish before they become dormant. October is also still a good time. Suitable spring flowering bulbs to be planted by the end of September include daffodils, crocus and hyacinth. October bulb planting is best for hardy summer flowers such as lilies and crocosmia.

Bulb Planting in November

Tulips should not be planted until November. This is to prevent the fungal disease “tulip fire” from affecting them. Bulbs which can be planted as late as November include snowdrops and cyclamen. You can also plant in your greenhouse or cold frame in November.

Seeds and trees

Sowing sweet pea seeds in a green house in November would make for a lovely display early the following year. Back outdoors, there are some great varieties of winter roses, such as hellebores, which could be planted in in borders. A spring or summer flowering magnolia tree may also be planted late in the year.

Where to plant your bulbs

Bulbs can be planted into pots or borders. The RHS recommend good draining soil in sunny spots for tulips and daffodils and cool, moist spots for flowers found in woodland habitats, such as cardiocrinum. The more bulbs you plant to plant together, the better the display when they flower.

If you’re concerned you have left it too late to plant bulbs you have already purchased this autumn, we recommend planting them anyway! Avoid using wet or rotten bulbs but the remaining ones will only deteriorate if you leave them stored in the shed. Seasons vary so much anyway and there are other variables to consider in successful planting. If you have done everything else correctly, you still stand a good chance of having a wonderful display of flowers come spring.

Value for money

Most bulbs are perennial, meaning they will appear year after year, making them a great investment. Tulips may only flower for a few years, so it’s best to add more bulbs every November to ensure you always have plenty blooming.

Buy in bulk and save! Frogheath Landscapes have some wonderful suppliers so if you’d like us to order your bulbs, please let us know, plant as many as you can to give your garden a carpet of colour and support the pollinators.