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The Bulb Gardening Year |
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Spring |
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• Replant pot-grown bulbs bought for an instant effect |
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• Plant snowdrops and snowflakes bought "In the green"* |
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• Check for any signs of grey mould and spray with a fungicide to
reduce infection |
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• Stake tall bulbs |
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• In late spring, plant out tender bulbs like gladioli and begonias |
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• Deadhead flowers to concentrate energy into the bulbs |
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• In late spring, clear away yellowing foliage to eliminate the
homes for slugs and snails |
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• Store container bulbs in a cool out of the way place |
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• Feed potted bulbs with
liquid fertilizer |
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• Water indoor cyclamen as they get new
leaves. Feed every two weeks
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Summer |
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• Lift and divide overcrowded clumps as the leaves die down
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• Collect dry seed in
paper bags and store in a cool dry place |
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• Clear away dying foliage to tidy the border and avoid the spread
of disease |
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• Rake over holes left in the soil by old bulb stems to lessen the
chance of insects laying eggs in the tunnel. Mulch the whole area |
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• Plant out pot-grown summer and autumn-flowering bulbs to fill gaps
in the border |
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• Re-pot winter and spring bulbs |
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• Tie gladioli and tall dahlias to stakes for support |
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• Buy new bulbs from your local garden
centre or order from bulb catalogues
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Autumn |
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• Plant commercial bulbs |
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• Prepare heavy or compacted soil for planting by digging deeply and
adding grit. Sprinkle a general-purpose fertilizer into the planting
hole, and plant the bulbs at the required depth |
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• Early autumn, plant containers with specially-prepared bulbs to
flower in midwinter |
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• Mark the location of your bulbs with labels to avoid disturbance
later |
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• Lift dahlias and gladioli and prepare
for winter storage
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Winter |
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• Clear away any old foliage that might impede fresh growth. Mulch
the site |
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• Add a general purpose fertilizer to the surrounding soil |
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• Store bulbs in a box in a cool, frost
free place and check
regularly for disease |
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• Move groups of bulbs. Dig up the clump and place in the new
position |
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• Sow commercial bulb seed |
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• If leaves show signs of disease lift the whole plant and dispose
of it |
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• Bring forced bulbs into a cool place to flower |
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• Order late summer flowering bulbs |
