Hello, I’m Tania, and I can’t tell you how much I love this time of year! Autumn bulb planting is one of my favourite jobs in the garden because it’s all about looking ahead to spring. You pop these little bulbs into the soil now, and in a few months you’ll have colour and life bursting through, just when we all need it most.
Planting Autumn Bulbs
I’ve worked with bulbs for many years here at Goulds, and every autumn I still get excited unpacking them. So let me share some of my top tips with you.
When’s the Best Time to Plant?
September through November is perfect.
I always recommend getting daffodils, crocus and snowdrops in early (September/October) so they can make strong roots before it gets too cold.
Tulips are a little different, hold off until late October or even November. Planting them later helps keep them healthy and reduces the chance of disease.
If your soil is heavy or holds a lot of water, wait for a drier spell or improve the drainage, bulbs don’t like sitting soggy.
How to Plant Bulbs (Nice and Simple!)
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Dig a hole about 2–3 times the height of your bulb.
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Pop it in with the pointy end facing up.
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Leave a little space between them (2–3 bulb widths apart). For a natural look, I love scattering them on the soil and planting them where they fall.
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If your soil is heavy, add some grit or bulb compost so they don’t rot.
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Give them a drink after planting — just enough to settle the soil around them.
Pots and Containers – My Favourite Trick
If you’re planting in pots, try “lasagne planting”. It’s brilliant! You layer different bulbs at different depths — tulips deep down, daffodils in the middle, and crocus or snowdrops on top. You’ll get a long-lasting display with one flush of colour after another.
And don’t forget: use a good free-draining compost, and raise pots off the ground a little so excess water can escape.
Keep your eyes peeled on our social media, Sue from the Plant Area will be showing you exactly how to create a lasagne bulb container in her video next week.
Planting for Wildlife
I always encourage choosing a few bulbs for the bees and pollinators. Early bloomers like crocus, snowdrops, and alliums give them food when little else is around. There’s nothing lovelier than seeing bees buzzing around those first flowers of the year.
A Few of My Little Reminders
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Plant in groups or drifts, not single soldiers — it’s much more cheerful in spring.
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Don’t panic if you don’t get them in right away. As long as the soil isn’t frozen solid, you can plant right up to Christmas.
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And here’s a tip from experience — make a little sketch or put in labels. Once the soil’s bare it’s so easy to forget where you’ve popped them.
Planting bulbs is such a hopeful job, a little bit of effort now that brings so much joy later on. I hope this helps you feel confident to get started. And if you’re not sure which bulbs to choose, just ask when you’re next in the garden centre — I’ll be more than happy to help.
Happy planting!
Tania
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