As spring officially commences in March, gardens will begin to flourish once more, and there are numerous gardening tasks to undertake. With temperatures on the rise and daylight hours extending, it becomes more enjoyable to spend time outdoors again. Planting bulbs is perfect for any garden as it ensures year-round flowering. Depending on their variety, bulbs can be planted in autumn, spring, or summer.
Gardeners might be tempted to give their plants a slight trim and tidy up, however, Monty Don strongly advised against this. The 69-year-old urged: “Do not cut back, tie or tidy the leaves of any bulbs but let them die back naturally as next year’s flower is being created by the photosynthesis of the foliage.
“Leave them until the last trace of green has gone – which will be at least June – and then tidy them or cut back.”
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) recommends waiting at least six weeks after the end of flowering before cutting back bulb plants.
Gardeners should trim back the dead foliage, ideally only removing them when they have turned yellow and straw-like.
Until the foliage reaches this stage, gardeners should continue to water and feed the bulbs as usual.
The leaves need exposure to sunlight for photosynthesis, so practices such as bending them over, braiding them, or tucking them under nearby plants are discouraged.
The ease of growing spring plants can vary depending on the variety, but daffodils and tulips are among the simplest to cultivate.
Daffodils thrive best in areas with good drainage, away from complete shade and south-facing walls. The RHS recommends planting daffodils at twice the depth of the bulb – between four and six inches deep – and spacing them between four and eight inches apart.
Tulips should ideally be planted between October and November, and they typically bloom from March to May. They favour full sun and should be planted at least twice the bulb’s width apart, at a depth of two or three times the bulb’s height.
While most tulip varieties are best replaced annually due to their tendency not to reflower after one year, there are some exceptions. Varieties like narcissus actaea and narcissus carlton are known to rebloom each year.
