To make sure your garden explodes with colour at the beginning of next year, says leading garden designer Tom Massey, there are eight bulbs that you need to plant in the next three weeks. It’s always a good idea to plant spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, crocuses, and hyacinths in the autumn, so those little bundles of energy can develop their roots through the winter ready to explode into flower in the new year.
“Here are some of my favourite bulbs to plant now,” Tom told the Daily Telegraph’s Saturday Magazine, adding that they will “offer a succession of colour through the early part of the year.” These plants will suit most garden soils in long grass that receives a good amount of sun, he says, and you should aim to plant all of them by the end of October. The bulbs need to be planted pointy-side up, at a depth of at least three times the height of the bulb itself.
“If in doubt,” Tom says, “always plant them that little bit deeper, as flowering might be compromised if they are too shallow.
“Cut your long grass areas tight before you plant,” he says, “and continue to mow the area, removing all the top growth until Christmas time, or for as long as the ground conditions allow.”
Once the festive period is over, Tom adds, you can stop trimming the grass and you’ll soon start seeing early bloomers like snowdrops peeping through. From then on, one wave of bulbs after another will appear right through until the end of June.
Once all those bulbs have appeared, he says, you can allow them to die down naturally before moving the grass: “The bulbs that I’ve suggested should be perennial,” Tom says, “meaning they will come back year after year, increasing with time.”
Tom says all of these bulb recommendations will suit most garden soils in long grass, as long as they receive a decent amount of sun.
Galanthus nivalis
Better known as the common snowdrop, these delicate white bell-shaped flowers will bloom from late January. Snowdrops are among the first bulbs to bloom in spring and can form impressive carpets of white in areas where they are native, or have been naturalised.
Crocus tommasinianus
This garden favourite, with long-tubed flowers varying in colour from lilac to deep purple, blooms from late winter to early spring and will tend to spread well over time.
Narcissus ‘Thalia’
This smaller daffodil, also sometimes known as the orchid Narcissus, has white, multi-headed flowers that will emerge during April.
Tulipa sylvestris
The wild, or woodland tulip produces scented yellow flowers between April and May, reaching a height of around 20”.
Fritillaria meleagris
With beautiful flowers in variegated shades of purple, the snake’s head fritillary thrives in moist soils. It was once much more common in the UK, but its habitat was greatly reduced during World War II, when common land was ploughed up to grow extra crops.
Gladiolus communis byzantinus
This is a hardy, long-lived gladiolus is known for its striking magenta flowers with white streaks that bloom in late spring to into July.