After a cold winter seeing bright spring bulbs emerge from the ground is truly spectacular,
especially when planted in mass.


Flowering bulbs are always popular  - they are great for picking, mostly perfumed and have superb colours. They can be easily grown in pots.


Most popular spring flowering bulbs such as Anemones, Hyacinths and Daffodils are planted in autumn through to early winter.

Bulbs will thrive in most well drained soils. Most do not tolerate waterlogged soils for long. 

If planting into a heavy soil, such as clay, add sand to the bottoms of the planting hole to improve drainage.

Plant in clumps, at random, scattered in the garden or under deciduous trees, in drifts of colour using combinations

that complement each other, or in borders among annuals, perennials and shrubs.

Smaller delicate bulbs are better suited to rockeries.


The general guideline for planting is to plant the bulb to a depth equal to twice the bulbs diameter. For example, if a daffodil bulb is 5cm in diameter, the planting depth is normally 10cm.


To get the best from your bulb feed with Tui Bulb Food. Add the bulb food when you see shoots coming through the ground and then after flowering has finished. This gives the bulb good nutrients to store when dormant to ensure you get lots of flowers the following season.

When flowering has finished, let the leaves yellow and die down completely. The leaves contain the bulbs food supply for the following season.

Bulbs can be lifted and stored at the end of the season.  Lift bulbs if the soil gets very hot in summer as they are in danger of roasting, or if the ground freezes or is waterlogged in winter.

Otherwise, lift bulbs just as the foliage starts to die down leaving leaves attached until they naturally dry off. Store bulbs in a cool dry airy room in a net bag or similar.

A dusting of fungicide will protect the bulb in storage.

Most bulbs can be left in the ground for 2-3 years until they become overcrowded when they can be dug up, divided, replanted or stored.

 
Watering

With spring flowering bulbs, nature takes care of watering with rain.

Summer and autumn flowering bulbs may need additional water during their growing season to ensure a colourful display.

 

Mulching

All bulbs will benefit from a layer of mulch to keep the soil cool and moist. Apply a layer of mulch approximately 2cm thick soon after planting.