Gardener shares ‘genius’ flower bulb planting hack that will give you flowers for months
Green-fingered homeowners are amazed by a gardener’s simple hack to care for flowers all spring long.
Hannah Rowson recommended using a pot that is at least 6-8 inches deep to make a “dumpling lasagna.”
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Rowson is an assistant garden center manager at J. Parker’s, a family-owned business specializing in garden supplies.
The retailer (@jparkersbulbs) unexpectedly went viral on TikTok when they shared a tutorial for making a bun lasagna.
Rowson said her technique of layering bulbs allows you to create a colorful and continuous display of spring blooms, all in one pot.
“Choose a pot that is deep enough for the tallest bulbs,” she said.
“As a general rule of thumb, your pot for a two-layer bun lasagna should be at least 6 to 8 inches deep, and even deeper if you plan to add more layers.
“Remember to make sure your pot has adequate drainage so that your pot doesn’t become flooded during the wetter months.”
Because the highest and last flowering bulbs had to be at the bottom, she chose daffodils first in the viral video.
However, tulips can work just as well for the first layer.
She then used hyacinths for the center, followed by early blooming large crocuses.
“[Use] a thick layer of compost to separate your bun lasagna and finish your pot with a layer of grit,” she says.
Then place the bun lasagna in a sheltered spot so that it can bloom all spring long.
Rowson revealed that the flowers don’t need much attention in autumn and winter for impressive results.
“I prefer to plant the bulbs in moist soil and let the weather do the rest,” she said.
“You don’t need to water yourself unless we have a particularly dry fall.”
Why I don’t think bun lasagnas are a good idea
Fabulous’ Associate Editor and garden enthusiast, Rebecca Miller, shares her thoughts on why bun lasagnas aren’t the best way to display your spring bulbs.
“Spring is my favorite time of year: I see the graceful daffodils waving in the wind, the tulips catching raindrops on their leaves and the alliums flying towards the sky before bursting their big heads.
I, like most gardeners, have tried the bun lasagna method, and I won’t do it again.
It works if you have consistent and reliable weather so that each bulb can grow at the designated time. But we don’t have that in Britain. I’ve seen tulips spring up before daffodils, or allium leaves die back (as they should) and look scraggly among my cute daffodil roach display.
If you’re someone with a limited amount of outdoor space, you might think that bun lasagnas are a good idea – lots of flowers in one pot – think again.
For the past 5 years I have been a ‘balcony gardener’, desperately filling my small outdoor space with as many plants as possible, during every season.
If you have a pot with only daffodils, but they have finished blooming, you can remove the bulbs and arrange and plant your summer plants or sow them in the same pot. But if your pot contains daffodils and tulips (some of which may be late blooming), you’ll fall behind on your gardening schedule and wait until they’re ready before heading to the summer displays.
And don’t get me started on trying to identify which bulb is which from one pot at the end of the spring season…
I know you can leave some spring bulbs in the ground to grow again the following year, so maybe when I have a garden I’ll try a bulb lasagna again.”
Nearly 40,000 people watched the TikTok video, with many viewers praising the idea.
“Because gardening shouldn’t cost a fortune,” the shopkeeper wrote.
One person described the hack as ‘genius’, while another said it ‘looks fascinating’.
“I’m definitely going to give it a try this weekend,” a third agreed.
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