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Planting tips
Spring Flowering Bulbs
If you want to fill your garden with colour next spring, plant bulbs from late-summer to the end of autumn. Daffodils, tulips, crocus, grape hyacinths and others are easy: plant them, water and wait. In a few months you?ll have a breathtaking floral display.
- Where to plant
If you want a great patio display, try growing your bulbs in pots. For a neat simple effect plant each variety on its own or if you want a busier display, plant several of the same variety packed closely together. Although several types can be planted together, their flowers may not appear at the same time.
Your lawn can take on a new life and look fabulous if you grow dwarf daffodils, crocus and snowdrops in it. The aim is to make it look as though they have decided to grow there by themselves and is known as naturalising.
Otherwise you can grow bulbs in borders, rockeries or even indoors.
- How to plant
Pick an appropriate pot, i.e. one that is the right size and will complement your chosen bulbs. Make sure it has drainage holes but if they appear too large cover them with pieces of broken pot. Fill pots with general-purpose compost, mixed with a handful of horticultural grit to improve drainage. Water after planting.
If you want to naturalise bulbs in your lawn, take a handful of them and drop them from waist height. Plant them where they land with a strong trowel or bulb planter. Bulb planters are ideal for digging into heavy clay soil. To use, push the cylindrical blade down, twist and pull up a plug of soil. Drop the bulb in, flattest side down, and crumble the plug into the hole.
When planting in beds and borders and you wish to put a lot of bulbs close together you may find it easier to dig a trench to the appropriate depth (depending on the bulb and advised on the guidelines it comes with), rather than making holes for each one.
Bulbs should be planted with their nose (pointy bit where the shoots appear) facing up, with the basal plate (flat bit where the roots appear) being in contact with the earth (if in doubt plant them sideways and they will still grow, it will just take them a little longer). Do not use dibbers to create the hole as this will leave a pocket of air under the bulb causing it to rot.
- Looking after bulbs
Bulbs in pots need more care than those in soil. Keep the compost moist and protect from frost by covering them with bubble wrap over winter. To keep those pesky squirrels at bay, put a layer of chicken wire over the pot too and remove when the shoots appear.
Mulching is always a good idea as it helps keep the soil from drying out in summer and protects from frost in the winter.
Elegant Roses
What garden would be complete without a luscious rosebush lording it up in a border or two?
The provocative rose is the emperor of any flower bed.
When they are planted in the autumn, roses can establish themselves fully over the winter and be ready for a full flowering season the following year.
Follow our planting tips below to ensure you have healthy roses for many years to come. And don't worry, roses are simpler to grow than you realise.
If you want to fill your garden with colour next spring, plant bulbs from late-summer to the end of autumn. Daffodils, tulips, crocus, grape hyacinths and others are easy: plant them, water and wait. In a few months you?ll have a breathtaking floral display.
- Where to plant
If you want a great patio display, try growing your bulbs in pots. For a neat simple effect plant each variety on its own or if you want a busier display, plant several of the same variety packed closely together. Although several types can be planted together, their flowers may not appear at the same time.
Your lawn can take on a new life and look fabulous if you grow dwarf daffodils, crocus and snowdrops in it. The aim is to make it look as though they have decided to grow there by themselves and is known as naturalising.
Otherwise you can grow bulbs in borders, rockeries or even indoors.
- How to plant
Pick an appropriate pot, i.e. one that is the right size and will complement your chosen bulbs. Make sure it has drainage holes but if they appear too large cover them with pieces of broken pot. Fill pots with general-purpose compost, mixed with a handful of horticultural grit to improve drainage. Water after planting.
If you want to naturalise bulbs in your lawn, take a handful of them and drop them from waist height. Plant them where they land with a strong trowel or bulb planter. Bulb planters are ideal for digging into heavy clay soil. To use, push the cylindrical blade down, twist and pull up a plug of soil. Drop the bulb in, flattest side down, and crumble the plug into the hole. When planting in beds and borders and you wish to put a lot of bulbs close together you may find it easier to dig a trench to the appropriate depth (depending on the bulb and advised on the guidelines it comes with), rather than making holes for each one.
Bulbs should be planted with their nose (pointy bit where the shoots appear) facing up, with the basal plate (flat bit where the roots appear) being in contact with the earth (if in doubt plant them sideways and they will still grow, it will just take them a little longer). Do not use dibbers to create the hole as this will leave a pocket of air under the bulb causing it to rot.- Looking after bulbs
Bulbs in pots need more care than those in soil. Keep the compost moist and protect from frost by covering them with bubble wrap over winter. To keep those pesky squirrels at bay, put a layer of chicken wire over the pot too and remove when the shoots appear.
Mulching is always a good idea as it helps keep the soil from drying out in summer and protects from frost in the winter.
Elegant Roses
What garden would be complete without a luscious rosebush lording it up in a border or two?
The provocative rose is the emperor of any flower bed.
When they are planted in the autumn, roses can establish themselves fully over the winter and be ready for a full flowering season the following year.
Follow our planting tips below to ensure you have healthy roses for many years to come. And don't worry, roses are simpler to grow than you realise.
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Plant your roses fast and never allow the roots to dry out.
Select a good position, where the rose will enjoy at least a few hours full sun each day, and dig a hole roughly 50cm (20") cubed. When planted, the base of the stems should be about 7.5cm (3") below ground level.
Water the plant in well and tamp the earth around it. Create a well around the base of the plant to make watering more effective.
Water regularly during dry spells (mulching will help maintain moisture).
Water regularly during dry spells (mulching will help maintain moisture).
Use a suitable rose feed at the end of spring to encourage better flowering. Choose your fertilizers well, looking out for organic varieties that will benefit your roses as well as the environment. Cut off any wilted flowers (deadheading) and when pruning always use clean secateurs.
The more attention you give roses the more they'll reward you with flowers.
Growing Indoors
Forcing bulbs for winter flowers
- Growing in glass
Place your bulb in a glass, jar or vase which has a similar girth as the bulb it will welcome.
Fill it with water and keep the water level just at the very bottom of the bulb.
- Pot growth
Pop your bulb into a pot filled with good potting soil and keep it moist to ensure root development. Put the pot somewhere dark and cool (10°C/50°F). Water from time to time.
When the shoot has reached 4 to 5cm you can take the pot out of the darkness. Avoid over watering and over exposure to light during the first 2 days.
You can then place the plant by a window.
The more attention you give roses the more they'll reward you with flowers.
Growing Indoors
Forcing bulbs for winter flowers
- Growing in glassPlace your bulb in a glass, jar or vase which has a similar girth as the bulb it will welcome.
Fill it with water and keep the water level just at the very bottom of the bulb.
- Pot growthPop your bulb into a pot filled with good potting soil and keep it moist to ensure root development. Put the pot somewhere dark and cool (10°C/50°F). Water from time to time.
When the shoot has reached 4 to 5cm you can take the pot out of the darkness. Avoid over watering and over exposure to light during the first 2 days.
You can then place the plant by a window.
The planting distances will depend upon the variety you have and the effect you want to create. For Tea roses, for example, we suggest that you plant them at least 45cm apart.