Daffodils, tulips and crocus are spring's first joy — and the secret is planting them the autumn before.
Created by jflgardens.co.uk
The most reliable way to a glorious spring display is to plant bulbs in autumn, while the soil is still warm and workable. It takes almost no skill — just the right depth, the right spot and a little forward planning.
Daffodils, tulips, crocus and alliums all need a cold period to trigger their bloom, so they're planted in autumn once the summer heat has gone. Daffodils and crocus can go in from late summer; tulips are happy even into November.
As a general rule, plant a bulb at roughly three times its own height — a 10cm daffodil bulb goes about 10-15cm deep. Deeper is usually safer than shallower when it comes to surviving frost and foxes.
Bulbs want ground that won't sit wet and rot the bulb. They often appreciate a spot that's sunny in spring and early summer, even if it becomes shadier later — plant them among perennials and let their foliage die back naturally.
Mix early, mid and late flowering varieties — snowdrops and early crocus first, then daffodils, then tulips and alliums — to stretch the display over months rather than a single week.
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