Bulb Planting for a Spring Display

Planting bulbs in autumn is one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to ensure your garden bursts into life once spring arrives. Whether tucked into beds and borders, naturalised through grassy areas, or arranged in pots and containers to brighten patios and balconies, bulbs deliver a vibrant, long-lasting display that marks the start of a new gardening season.

Spring Bulbs to Plant Now

There’s still time to plant a wonderful range of spring bulbs for colour from early February right through to May. Here are some of our favourites and where they perform best:

Daffodils (Narcissus)

• Perfect for borders, naturalising in lawns or woodland edges.
• Choose early-flowering varieties such as ‘February Gold’ for a cheerful start to spring, or taller mid-season types like ‘Carlton’.
• There are also some lovely white daffodils like Ice Follies or the more unusual Pheasant's Eye 

Tulips

• Best planted in well-drained beds or containers.
• They bring bold colour and height from April into May.
• Try mixing early varieties like ‘Mary Ann’ with later-flowering Darwin Hybrids for an extended display.

Crocus

• Ideal for lawns, rockeries and pots.
• Their delicate flowers appear as early as late February and look stunning when naturalised in grassy areas or under deciduous trees.
• Choose from yellow, purple and white varieties or the more unusual 'Tommasinianus' with it's lilac-pink shades

Hyacinths

• Beautifully scented and perfect for containers, window boxes, or near doorways where their perfume can be enjoyed.
• Flowering from March to April.

Alliums

• Late-spring showstoppers with dramatic globe-shaped flowers.
• Excellent for sunny borders and for adding height and structure that bridges the gap to summer perennials.
• Popular varieties include 'Purple Sensation'  and 'Ambassador' pictured together here.

Muscari (Grape Hyacinths)

• Compact and reliable, these are lovely for edging paths, underplanting shrubs, or mixing into containers.
• They flower from March through April.

Note: While many spring-flowering favourites like daffodils and tulips are true bulbs, you’ll also find plants such as Anemone blanda, Iris reticulata and Ranunculus in the bulbs section at Ardcarne Garden Centre. These grow from tubers or corms rather than bulbs, but are planted in exactly the same way and will bring vibrant, early colour to borders and pots next spring.

There are also bulbs that can be grown for a Christmas display that will bring a splash of colour and even fragrance to your home over the festive season:

Look out for Hyacinths that are labelled 'prepared' - these can be grown in bulb fibre or a light compost with just the tip of the bulb showing or they can be grown in a special hyacinth vase. Hyacinth vases have a kind if egg-timer shape where the base is filled with water and the bulb sits in the top section with just the roots in the water below. You can then 'force' the bulbs by placing them in a cool, sunless area or covering them in a black polythene bag.

Narcissus 'Paperwhite' also make for a nice potted Christmas display adding some indoor fragrance. Simply plant the bulbs with their tips just below the surface of the compost, water well and position on a warm, sunny windowsill. Once they've finished flowering you can leave them in a frost-free place to die down and then plant outdoors in a sheltered, sunny spot.

It's maybe a bit late now to get a Christmas display from an Amaryllis bulb as these usually need planting in October and require about 10 weeks to flower but these will certainly give you a display in late winter/early spring and are a lovely big flower to have bloom indoors.

These wonderful bulb displays in Keukenhoff, Holland demonstrate how even just planting bulbs alone can have a stunning effect in the spring, with just a bit of planning - Image by rexton from Pixaba

How to Plant for the Best Results

In Beds and Borders

Plant bulbs at a depth roughly three times their height, pointed end up, in soil that drains freely. Space generously for natural groupings rather than rigid lines. Combine early, mid and late-season bulbs to keep colour flowing. For example, crocus at the front, daffodils mid-border, and tulips or alliums at the back for height and drama.

Naturalising in Lawns

Scatter bulbs randomly over the area before planting to achieve a natural effect. Lift small sections of turf with a spade, tuck in a few bulbs beneath each flap and replace the grass. Choose bulbs like crocus, narcissus and snowdrops that will happily return and spread each year. Mow the grass only once the bulb foliage has died back naturally.

Container Displays and Layering

Bulbs thrive in pots when planted with good-quality peat-free compost and drainage holes. To create a long-lasting ‘lasagne’ or layered display, plant larger bulbs like tulips deepest, then daffodils, then smaller bulbs such as crocus or muscari near the top. As each layer finishes flowering, the next takes over, giving weeks of continuous colour. Water well after planting and place pots in a sheltered, sunny position.

Aftercare and Maintenance

• Feeding: Once bulbs have finished flowering, remove spent blooms but leave the foliage intact until it yellows naturally — this allows energy to return to the bulb for next year’s growth. You can feed with a slow-release fertiliser or a liquid tomato feed at this stage.
• Dividing: Every few years, lift and divide overcrowded clumps in summer once foliage has died back. Replant or share with friends for even more spring cheer.
• Containers: After flowering, either replace bulbs for next year or move pots to a quiet corner to allow bulbs to die back naturally before refreshing compost for replanting in autumn.

Final Thoughts

There’s something truly uplifting about the sight of bulbs pushing through the soil after a long winter. Whether you plant a few pots on the patio or create sweeping drifts of daffodils through the lawn, you’ll be rewarded with vibrant colour and a sense of renewal every spring. The key is simply to get planting now — your future self will thank you come February!