As our gardens slowly start going to sleep for the Winter, now is the opportune time for us to start planning for next year when they wake up again.
Spring is just simply not Spring without the fizzing pop of colour and energy that bulbs bring to our gardens. Whether it be dancing daffodil heads or the seemingly infinite varieties of tulips, or one of the many of others, our hearts cannot help but be lifted when these plants open to unveil their beauty.
As you begin to plan your own Spring show, we wanted to give you some inspiration for perhaps some different ways of displaying that you might not have thought about.
Perhaps not the most innovative suggestions, however one that is so simple that it is often overlooked; planting a range of bulbs that all flower at different times, resulting in one display that just keeps on giving. It could be made up of different flower types, or the same flower but different varieties. The point is that as one is finishing its performance, another one takes over. (Particularly exciting if you have forgotten what exactly you have planted in there!)
For something different, instead of having pots with lots of varieties of bulbs on display, why not have one variety of bulb and have lots of different pots on display. Unless choosing a long flowering bulb this type of display won’t last too long, but it will definitely make an impact whilst it does.
Image credit: Catherine Howard
Be loud and be proud! Make your Spring bulb display the main focal point. Too often they are pushed up against a wall; bring them forward and make people have to take notice.
Image credit: Katharine Coulson
Because Spring bulbs are generally not that tall, they can easily be swamped amongst the other plants in a border (and that’s even if they have managed to fight their way through or been lucky enough to dodge the pointy end of digging trowel). Plant the bulbs in planters and then carefully arrange these within borders to create unexpected impact. This is also quite a handy tip for adding bulbs to an already mature garden that you may be not too sure of where you can plant them. Plant them in pots in the Autumn, grow them on, then when they are in bloom you can see in the garden where are the best places to put them.
To appreciate the true wonder and beauty of a flower you need to get up close to see the detail. As mentioned previously, Spring bulbs tend not to be that tall and so it is easy to not fully see and therefore experience their exquisiteness. Change this by planting in tall pots that bring the flowers up to eye-line where their intricateness can be better marvelled at.
Spring bulbs are great, in Spring; not so the rest of the year. Even if you plant a variety of different bulbs within your display, when they are finished so is the display. Create a longer lasting display by mixing up bulbs with other types of plants, whether they be perennials or annuals. Not only does this mean you don’t need to store away or empty the pots once the bulbs have finished, but also the other plants can actually hide the fading bulb foliage meaning the bulbs are better fed for next year’s display.
As lovely as Spring is, it is not always the nicest weather outside in which to appreciate your beautiful bulb displays. Why not, therefore, bring the bulbs inside? That way, even on the wettest of days, you can still enjoy their delightfulness. (This also works well if you happen to have wildlife roaming your grounds that rather like to snack on them!) Just check on each type and variety that they are ok with these conditions.
Image credit: KW Interiors
We hope these examples has helped fuel your imagination. If you have any questions or would like advice of any sort, please do not hesitate to contact us.