SPRING INTO ACTION

SPRING-FLOWERING BULBS

Spring-flowering bulbs form one of the most versatile groups of plants and, after the cold and dull days of winter, provide welcome splashes of colour all around the garden. Just as importantly, they are perfect for experienced and beginner gardeners, being reliable, easy to grow and requiring very little maintenance. However, to guarantee a stunning display next year, it's important to start purchasing and planting the dormant bulbs now.

In smaller gardens, the best place for spring-flowering bulbs is in ornamental beds and borders where they can complement established trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials. It also ensures that once the flowering display has ended, any untidy foliage will be largely masked by other plants. In a similar fashion, container grown bulbs light up bare terraces (and doorways) whilst in full bloom but can be moved out of view as they start to fade. For larger gardens, it's possible to create magnificent drifts of colour by naturalising spring-flowering bulbs in grassy areas – this involves scattering the bulbs randomly across the chosen site and planting them where they fall.

THE MAIN SPRING FLOWERING BULBS

CROCUS

Crocuses are universally admired plants and produce masses of vibrant, goblet-shaped flowers from January to March. For the most flamboyant show, purchase large flowered Dutch crocuses, like the white and purple-striped 'Pickwick' and 'Yellow Giant' and raise clumps of them under deciduous shrubs and around the edge of the lawn. Alternatively, grow the more delicate-looking and slightly earlier flowering species crocus, including the orange-yellow Crocus angustifolius (cloth-of-gold crocus) and Crocus tommasinianus for its lavender flowers. These types are particularly suited to containers and rock gardens. Crocus corms should be planted during September, October and November – bury them around 3in deep (and at a similar spacing) in any well drained soil, either in full sun or light shade.

DAFFODILS (NARCISSUS)

The daffodil is probably the most popular spring-flowering bulb and there are white, yellow and orange specimens. The trumpet-flowered and large-cupped narcissus, like 'Dutch Master' (March), 'Mount Hood' (April) and 'Carlton' (March-April) are usually the tallest (to 24in high) and ideal for growing en-masse in borders, under hedges and naturalising in rough grass. At the other end of the scale, miniature and scented varieties, like 'February Gold' (March), 'Jack Snipe' (March) and 'Pipit' (March-April) make cheerful container plants. When buying daffodils at the garden centre, always take your time as, with a careful selection of varieties, it's possible to have them in flower from February through to May. As a rule of thumb, plant daffodils in September or early October and bury each bulb at a depth equal to twice its own height – space them 4in to 8in apart. Daffodils thrive in sun or partial shade and any well drained soil.

MUSCARI

The grape hyacinth is a low growing bulb and a good choice for the rockery, the front of borders or planting underneath deciduous trees. It has clumps of tiny, bell-shaped flowers in shades of blue and white and these appear on top of short and leafless stems. The usual choice is Muscari armeniacum which grows 6in to 9in tall and has mildly fragrant flowers in the mid spring. To thrive, plant the bulbs in September or October and bury them 3in deep and 4in apart in a well drained soil. Muscari tolerate some shade but the best flowers appear in sunny areas.

SNOWDROPS

The common snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) is at its best in February when the white and green bell-shaped flowers dangle from short stems even if snow is lying on the ground. It is traditionally known as the herald of spring and a sure sign that the winter is very nearly over. If you are a fan of this plant, there are sweetly scented varieties, such as 'S. Arnott', or try 'Flore Pleno' for its beautiful double flowers. Snowdrops thrive in partial shade (or full sun) and are ideal for positioning at the front of borders, beneath deciduous trees and shrubs or naturalise them in grass. For the best results, select a moist but well drained soil and enrich it with plenty of organic matter before planting - bury the bulbs 3in deep and 3in to 4in apart. The ideal time for planting is September and October.

TULIPS

It's almost impossible to surpass the elegance and brilliant colours of tulips in the mid to late spring and there are lots of different types, including dwarf species, like the yellow and white Tulipa tarda; the mid-spring flowering Darwin hybrids, such as 'Golden Apeldoorn'; and the stylish lily-flowered and Rembrandt tulips for a May display. For the connoisseur, there are also 'broken' tulips which have complex colour patterns to the petals and botanical tulips, like Tulipa greigii and Tulipa kaufmanniana that thrive in pots and the rock garden. All tulips prefer shelter and full sun and a reasonably fertile and well drained soil is vital. The ideal month for planting is November (earlier planting can result in frost damage to the shoot tips). In broad terms, tulip bulbs should be planted with the pointed tips 6in below the surface – botanical tulips are best planted 4in deep - and at 4in to 8in spacings.

SPRING-FLOWERING BULBS TIP

Spring-flowering bulbs, especially those naturalised in grassy areas must be left to die-back for at least 6 to 8 weeks after the flowering display has ended. This allows the leaves to replenish the underground bulbs and build-up valuable food reserves for the following year's display. Never cut the leaves down (or tie them into bunches) straight after flowering or the bulbs will gradually lose their vigour.

SPRING-FLOWERING BULBS PLANTING TIP

The quickest and simplest way to plant large numbers of spring-flowering bulbs is with a special long-handled bulb planter. This tool removes a core of soil (to the required depth) which, after a popping a bulb in the resulting hole, can then be placed back over the bulb. It also has the advantage of being used from an upright position to reduce stress on the lower back.

SPRING-FLOWERING BULBS CONTAINER TIP

Squirrels frequently unearth spring-flowering bulbs, notably those grown in outdoor containers. A good way to keep them at bay is to bury a piece of chicken wire (cut to size) just below the compost surface, or secure the wire over the top of the container until the leaves and flowers emerge.