When To Plant Spring Bulbs — And 9 Flowers To Sow Now For Next Year’s Blooms

Dreaming of beautiful borders next year? Now is the perfect planting window for spring-flowering bulbs, including tulips and hyacinths. With a little effort, you’ll reap the rewards of a colourful planting scheme.

‘Bulbs are easy to grow and extremely versatile, coming back year after year,’ Julian Palphramand, head of plants at British Garden Centres, tells House Beautiful UK.

‘Storing their energy over the winter, they spring into life as winter draws to a close and look great in borders, filling in the gaps before your perennials and shrubs start to spring into action again, as well as in your lawn for a naturalising effect.’

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Ideal for small spaces, bulbs also make brilliant container displays and can be layered in clever ‘bulb lasagnes’ for dazzling results.

When should you plant spring bulbs?

Spring bulbs can be planted from September to November, before the first frost arrives. Varieties such as tulips can be planted later in November for a flowering period in late spring.

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What are the best spring bulbs to plant in autumn?

The spring bulbs to plant in autumn include:

Snowdrops CrocusDaffodils Hyacinths IrisMuscari (grape hyacinth)TulipsAlliumsFritillaria Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Delft Blue’Credit: crocus.co.uk Galanthus nivalisCredit: crocus.co.uk Tulip ‘Purple Flag’TulipaCredit: thompson-morgan.com What are the tips for successful bulb planting?

Julian suggests planting your bulb with the pointed end facing up, flat into the soil. Place your bulb into the soil at around twice the size of the bulb (so that roots have enough space to grow).

‘We recommend planting bulbs twice their own depth (around 10 cm deep),’ he says. ‘Most bulbs and corms love full sun and soil with good drainage. They thrive in soil enriched with organic matter and horticultural grit,’ says Julian, who also suggests mixing in one-third grit to two-thirds soil.

What should you do with bulbs after their flowering period?

Whether it’s your snowdrops or tulips, allow foliage to die back naturally after flowering, as this lets the plant store energy in the bulb for the following year’s display. ‘Removing leaves too early can reduce the blooms next year,’ says Julian.

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Deputy Daily Editor, Country Living and House Beautiful

 Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she’s busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.