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Although it’s only September, gardeners are already thinking about spring 2025.
Michael Griffiths, also known as @the_mediterranean_gardener on Instagram shared which spring bulbs you should plant in pots, containers and borders this month.
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And one flower you have to wait until October or December to plant.
The gardening expert shared a video with his 300,000 followers, naming daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses, snowdrops and alliums as his ‘favourite’ spring bulbs.
“They all look fantastic in a pot or border,” he added.
“Spring flowering bulbs should be planted between September and October so that the bulbs can develop roots before going dormant for the winter,” Michael explains.
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However, gardeners prefer not to plant tulips this month.
Michael suggested leaving tulip bulbs until “late October through December so they don’t get a disease called Tulip Fire.” So November is the perfect time for them!
When it comes to planting spring flowering bulbs, there is a right way to do it.
Plant them two to three times as deep as the bulb, with the right side facing up!
If you’re not sure which is “right side up,” don’t worry: plant them on their sides and they’ll rise to the surface on their own.
How to plan a bollasagna
A rather unusual term for gardening, but it was coined by the Dutch and refers to planting flower bulbs on top of each other.
The largest and last flowering bulbs go deepest and the smallest and earliest flowering bulbs go to the top layer.
It is a nice way to put plants with different flowering periods all in the same pot. Think of crocuses and tulips for example.
It also provides a beautiful, long succession of flowers, so you can enjoy one space-saving pot for a long time.
And which lamps should go where?
Layer 1 or bottom – Tulips, Hyacinths, Alliums
Layer 2 or middle– Daffodils, Muscari, Anemones
Layer 3 or top – Crocuses, Dwarf Iris, Snowdrops
Why I think lasagna with buns is not a good idea
Rebecca Miller, deputy editor of Fabulous and garden enthusiast, explains why bulb lasagna isn’t the best way to display your spring bulbs.
“Spring is my favorite time of year: the graceful daffodils swaying in the breeze, the tulips catching raindrops on their leaves, and the alliums shooting into the air before exploding their large flowers.
Like most gardeners, I have tried the flower bulb lasagna method and will never do it again.
It works if you have consistent and reliable weather so that each bulb grows at the correct time. But we don’t have that in the UK. I’ve had tulips come up before daffodils, or allium leaves die back (as they should) and look untidy amongst my lovely daffodil minnow display.
If you have limited outdoor space, you might think that flower bulb lasagna is a good idea (lots of flowers in one pot), but think again.
For the past five years I have been creating a balcony garden, filling my small outdoor space with as many plants as possible, all year round.
If you have a pot of just daffodils, once they’ve finished blooming you can pull out the bulbs and start or sow your summer plants in the same pot. But if your pot contains daffodils and tulips – some of which can be late bloomers – you’ll be behind on your gardening schedule and will have to wait until they’ve finished blooming before you can start your summer displays.
And don’t get me started on identifying which bulb is which in a pot in late spring…
I know that some spring bulbs can be left in the ground to grow again the following year, so I might try bulb lasagna again when I have a garden.”
If you are planning to make a tulip bulb lasagna, then the @the_mediterranean_gardener says the fire should be postponed next month to reduce the risk of tulip fire blight.
What is Tulip Fire Disease?
Tulip blight is a fungal disease affecting tulips and is caused by the fungus Botrytis tulipae. It is also known as Botrytis blight or gray mold.
Tulip smut can be more prominent in very humid autumn periods.
How to recognize tulip fire:
- Leaves – brown spots, twisted, wilted and deformed
- Flowers – places that can lead to rot in wet weather
- Stems – gray to brown or collapsing
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