|
Small
is Beatuiful When it's Bulbs
3
September 2002
Once again it
is time to plant spring flowering bulbs. There
are plenty to pick from including the familiar,
large flowering tulips, daffodils and bluebells.
For me its the miniatures I welcome in
the winter and early spring. They may not be
big and showy but make up fo it by providing
a riot of colour irrespective of wind, rain
or frost.
 The
snowdrop is among the earliest to flower and
quickly spreads to form a carpet. It is best
planted in spring after flowering while still
in leaf.If you have to buy them now, select
plump, firm bulbs and plant them as soon as
possible. There are many varieties
to choose from including those with fully double
flowers.
Crocus are great in the garden either in the
border or naturalized in the lawn. There are
suitable small flowering bulbs for growing in
the rock garden and in alpine troughs. The poor,
gritty, rockery soil provides ideal growing
conditions. A layer of coarse grit on the surface
will
deter slugs.
Bulbs make excellent companion plants in shade.
Cyclamen hederifolium, anemones, fritillaries
and trilliums all prefer cool woodland conditions.
Work some leaf mould or peat into the top few
inches and they will quickly colonize large
patches under trees. Surely the herbaceous border
must be the most sorry looking sight in the
garden in February
and early March. At best it is tidy but with
no evidence of emerging new growth. It only
takes a few clumps of crocus, snowdrops or anemone
blanda to add sparkle with the promise of more
to come.
There are species which prefer moist soil conditions,
others demand a well drained site. There are
very few spring bulbs which can tolerate wet,
waterlogged ground.
A good general rule is to plant at a depth approximately
two and a half times the height of the bulb.
Setting them on a bed of sand or grit will help
prevent the bulb rotting. Crocus, snowdrops,
dwarf iris and scillas make a better display
if planted in groups using at least 8-10 of
the same variety together.
When naturalising in short grass simply remove
the sod,loosen the soil with a fork. Scatter
the bulbs planting them where they have fallen.
Add some bone meal and replace the sod. Water
the grass for a few days to help it recover
and reroot.
 My
favourites? Cyclamen coum and C.hederifolium,
Fritillaria meleagris, F.michailovskya, Iris
danfordiae and Anemone nemorosa.
Find
out more information about Snow Drops
from www.bbc.co.uk/gardening
Back to John's index page |
