September 2023 news
Bulbs are an important element in any garden – they provide swathes of brilliant colour not only in spring but across the seasons. Some of our favourite garden plants grow from bulbs, from welcome snowdrops and crocuses in late winter, daffodils and tulips in spring, lilies, gladioli and dahlias in summer and nerines and colchicums in autumn.
Planted when dormant, bulbs are small powerhouses that burst into flower a few months later, giving a stunning display of colourful flowers. The term 'bulb' often refers not only to true bulbs such as such as daffodils and tulips, but also tubers, corms and rhizomes.
With a little forward planning, you can enjoy bursts of colour from bulbs almost all year round. Most grow extremely well in pots and many are attractive to pollinators. For the best results, buy more bulbs than you think you need – for bulbs to really make an impact, they look best planted en masse
There are two main planting times for bulbs.Spring bulbs, such as crocus, daffodils, tulips and alliums are planted in autumn and flower the following spring. They then die back and go dormant in summer. Summer-flowering bulbs, such as dahlias, lilies and gladioli, are planted in spring. They go dormant in winter.
In the shop we have a good selection of Spring bulbs which can be planted from now until December on the garden or in pots and rockeries to give a bright splash of colour in Spring.There are crocus , daffodils , tulips, hyacinths , narcissi, muscari, iris and bluebells to choose from in plenty of colours and varieties
Where to plant bulbs
Most bulbs need a sunny spot, and well-drained soil. Some bulbs, such as snowdrops or narcissi, will also grow in partial shade. Many bulbs look great planted in drifts among perennials in borders. Spring bulbs look particularly good when planted under a deciduous shrub in a border.
Most bulbs grow extremely well in pots.
You can also grow some bulbs in lawns, wildflower meadows or around the base of trees – they will then naturalise over the years, creating a natural-looking drift.
When planting bulbs, it's important to plant them at the right depth to ensure you get to enjoy the flowers. Bulbs that are planted too deeply may produce only foliage at the expense of flowers, or not emerge at all. Too deeply is better than too shallow, however – the bulbs are at greater risk of being dug up accidentally, or by squirrels, which will feast on the nutritious bulbs
How to plant bulbs in the ground
Most bulbs do best in well-drained soils. If you have heavy soil, plant bulbs that do best in a moist soil, like snake's head fritillaries, or improve the soil drainage with well-rotted organic matter such as garden compost or well-rotted manure. You could also add some horticultural grit or sand at the base of each planting hole to improve drainage.
Step 1
Dig a hole wide and deep enough for your bulbs, using a trowel or bulb planter. Plant most bulbs at two to three times their depth.
Step 2
Place the bulbs in the hole with their pointed end facing upwards (check the packet instructions for corms and tubers). Space the bulbs at least twice the bulbs' width apart.
Step 3
Fill the planting hole back in. If you like, you can mark the spot with a label or stick.
Step 4
If you're planting bulbs in autumn and the soil is already moist, there is no need to water the bulbs in – they will get plenty of moisture over the coming months from rainfall. If planting bulbs in spring, water them in after planting.
How to plant bulbs in containers
In pots, bulbs can be planted less deeply and closer together. You can pot up different bulbs in different pots, which means you can rotate the display, bringing those at their peak to the fore. Use a peat-free, multi-purpose compost – you could add some horticultural grit for added drainage. For the best display, bulbs in pots are best replaced annually.
Step 1
Add some crocks at the bottom of the pot for drainage.
Step 2
Add some compost at the base of the pot. If you're planting up a large pot, a depth of around 10cm is ideal.
Step 3
Add your bulbs, pointed end up, around 1-2cm apart.
Step 4
Top up the pot with compost and water in well.
You can pot up different bulbs in different pots, which means you can rotate the display, bringing those at their peak to the fore. Alternatively, layer bulbs for maximum impact and a continuous succession of flowers.
(courtesy of Gardeners World magazine)
In the shop
Feeding the birds is important all year round and as the weather turn cooler as we head into September – its good idea to think about how to help our feathered friends
A seed feeder is a quick and simple way to make your garden more attractive to birds.
We have a good selection of bird feeders in both our shops in Richmond and Barnard Castle to suit different size seed as well as for peanuts and fat balls .If squirrels are a problem in your area, it might be better to purchase a squirrel-proof feeder instead which we also stock -these only allow smaller birds access to the food.
The type of food you put in feeders will affect the species visiting your garden. For example, meal worms are popular with insect eaters like sparrows, whereas goldfinches are partial to niger seeds – in the shop there is a wide selection of food for the birds including wild bird mixes , nyger seed , peanuts , fat balls and suet pellets - fat balls are a particularly good option for birds as they need food packed with energy.
If you set up a feeder, remember to clean it regularlily
Also a sturdy bird table can be the centre decoration in the garden as well as a safe place for birds to feed and we have plenty of good quality tables for sale
If you also like to support other wildlife in the garden – we have support for hedgehogs with some hedgehog houses and food for them too