Spring Bulb Master Class
There is nothing like the very first show of daffodils in the spring. Their brightness is so uplifting! From now until first frost is the time to start planting these and other bulbs we’ll enjoy the coming spring. In the Pavilion we are currently holding Crocus, Snowdrops, Bluebells, Alliums, Tulips, Hyacinths anemone and more for you to choose from.
Be sure to plant within a week of getting your bulbs home to avoid their growing in the bag. Dig and break up the soil where you want to plant. Make sure it is an area of good drainage so bulbs don’t rot, then plant your bulbs two to three times the depth of the bulb. Once planted, water well during growth and at least six weeks after they flower. Keep a special eye on the pots – compost should be moist, not soaked.
Remove dead flowers from their base to save the plants energy for next year’s colour blast. Continue watering plants and when foliage is brown, cut back. Don’t lift and store bulbs that have naturalised in grass, or have been plated beneath shrubs or perennials. If needed and once foliage is finished, lift and trim back roots of the healthy bulbs and lay on a tray to dry for a day to help prevent rot.
Now for displaying your bulbs. One beautiful way is allowing them to naturalise in any area of grass that is not normally cut very short. Easy bulbs for this can be snowdrops, mini daffodils or crocus. For a natural look, put the bulbs in a bucket and toss/scatter them across the lawn and plant exactly where they land. When they are finished, resist the urge to mow the lawn as soon as they finished flowering, wait until they have gathered enough food for next year!
For containers you can use your own design or we have some great collections of mixed bulbs that flower at different times. Pick your favourite colour and pack your favourite pot for bursts of colour around the garden. Or for ease we have our 60 Days of Flowers bags that contain 50 Bulbs to be layered for different bloom times. One bag is warm coloured with whites and yellows and another is cooler using pinks and blues. Both bags have pictures to use as a planting guide for those who may be a little unsure.
For the garden, come in and put together your favourite shades of yellows, whites, pinks or blues. Our Madeira collection includes Narcissus, Tulips, Hyacinths with Muscari and we have a Blooms, Bees & Butterflies collection that has four different warm Tulips mixed with Narcissus Golden Dawn. Tulips and Alliums can look great lined up in gardens that are more formal, against hedging or balls. Cottage gardens need a more relaxed positioning method. You can use the same method as the lawn by scattering or at very least be sure to plant in groups of uneven numbers.
So get yourself ready for spring! A little planning with a little work is fun and the results so rewarding just when you need it!
Mary Weiss, Horticulturalist at Powerscourt Garden Pavilion
