September
September
The nights are beginning to get longer and there is a touch of autumn in the air. Even as I write this in August my Acer is showing its Autumnal colours and the birds are feeding more and more from the fat balls I hang from it.
The autumn is one of my favourite times of the year, although winter is coming now is the time to plant bulbs which will bring fabulous colours into your garden in Spring. PICTURE OF FIELD OF BULBS Everyone immediately thinks of daffodils, tulips and crocus as first choice. We select all our bulbs from cultivated stock so there is no environmental damage in their production and we source our bulbs ( and corms ) from the best suppliers, where possible from England but if necessary from The Netherlands. Although you might be tempted to pick up your bulbs with your weekly shopping you may be quite disappointed with the quality as to keep the prices low the bulb sizes are often compromised and generally the bigger the bulb the better the flower.
Tulips come in a host of colours, varieties and heights and can be planted in borders or pots. They will grow in a wide variety of soil types but there must be good drainage. Partial shade is best as although tulips enjoy the sun the flowers will last longer out of it.
Gordale Recommends – STAR BUY Tulip Red Impression. 15 bulbs for £3.99 PICTURE
Crocus tend to be white, yellow or purple although the shades of these do vary and all tend to be low growing. They will grow in a wide variety of soil types providing the drainage is good and like sunshine although partial shade is better for prolonged flowering.
Gordale Recommends – Crocus Snowbunting 20 bulbs for £1.99 PICTURE
Daffodils are mainly yellow through to cream but many varieties have contrasting centres. They come in a variety of heights from a few inches to almost 2 feet. Daffodils like well-drained but moist humus rich soil in sun or partial shade. They do not like very dry areas. They do not look at their best planted in straight formal rows but look wonderful in clumps in borders. Although they do look good planted into informal lawned areas, after flowering it is essential that the leaves are left to die back to put the goodness back into the bulb, so your lawn can look quite untidy for many weeks. Please do not be tempted to cut the leaves off or even plait them for tidiness as a bulb deprived of this goodness will be unlikely to produce a flower next year. Daffodils can be left undisturbed for years but if you feel that they are becoming overcrowded, once the leaves have withered, lift the bulbs, separate and replant immediately.
Gordale Recommends – STAR BUY Narcissus Jetfire 25 bulbs for £3.99 PICTURE
Don’t overlook the other bulbs available, they will add a lot extra interest to your garden and be a real talking point – as long as you remember what they are called. By planting Muscari, Fritillaria, Camassia, Iris, Anemone, Chionodaxa, Eranthis and Alliums you will have colour right through from March to June and if you plant some Snowdrops too you may even have some flowers in February. PICTURE
Planting and Aftercare
Bulbs are very straightforward, there is no thinning, pruning or routine spraying as with many trees and shrubs but you do need to do more than just stick the bulb in the ground.
Dig a hole about twice the width of the bulb, the depth will depend on the bulb type but a general trend is for large bulbs to be covered by twice their own height of soil and for small bulbs to be covered with their own height, using either a bulb planter or a trowel. PICTURES AND PRICES OF This can be in the garden or in an indoor or outdoor pot. Add a little good compost to the bottom of the hole, push the bulb down gently and twist slightly. Mix the soil you have taken out of the hole with a little compost and then cover the bulb with this mix. Don’t press this down too hard. Label the bulbs so that you know not to did in this area.
If the planting soil is not very rich you can add some Bone Meal PICTURE AND PRICE into the soil before planting ( follow the instructions on the packet ) if you wish you can use a slow release fertilizer PICTURE AND PRICE on the soil after flowering and before the leaves have died away. There is little need to water the bulbs unless there is a long period of drought and then do not water if the bulb is dormant.
If possible remove dead flowers, do not remove the stems and do not remove the leaves until fully died back.
Bulbs in Containers
Bulbs grow very well in containers and we have lots to choose from. Bulbs can be planted on their own, in which case after flowering it is best to put the container into a hidden corner of the garden until next year or as part of a bigger planting scheme of bedding or other plants so that when the bulbs pop up it is a nice and welcome surprise and the fading foliage is hidden by other plants.
Bulbs in the House
Bulbs are also very good in the house. Hyacinths are very popular for indoor Christmas PICTURE flowering as not only do they look stunning in your lounge they also give a very nice scent, far better than any commercial chemical room scenter. Specially forced bulbs, often called prepared (but they are not treated in any way with chemicals, purely treated with cold and heat) must be bought. They need to be planted in September and left in a cold, dark, frost free place until the shoots are 1 to 2 inches high. The container should then be put in a cool, shady spot for a few days in your house and then in a lighter place. The latest they can be brought into the house to ensure Christmas flowering is December 1st.
Any bulb planted indoors should be planted in a good quality Bulb Fibre, PICTURE AND PRICE ordinary compost or garden soil will not produce good results and in the end will be an expensive cost saving exercise.
Hyacinths can also be grown in a hyacinth glass. PICTURE AND PRICE Water is placed in the lower part of the glass and the bulb suspended on the top so its base is just touching the water. It then needs to be kept in a cool, dark, frost free place until the shoot is about 2 inches tall when it can be brought into your display position.
