Flowers are a fantastic way to add a splash of colour and life to your garden, no matter the season. The first signs of spring are often the green shoots of bulbs poking their heads through the soil in February.
The gardening experts at Hedges Direct have revealed three flower bulbs you should plant now to ensure your garden is looking its best come springtime. They suggest that there are some bulbs you can plant in January, “but it will depend on the conditions of your garden”.
Planting tulips, crocuses, and daffodils in January is perfectly fine as long as the ground is workable. Given the recent cold snap you might need to wait for a thaw. But if the ground is suitable, get planting.
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1. Crocus.
Crocuses bring a vibrant burst of colour to the garden in both spring and autumn. The small purple, yellow and white flowering corms create a delightful display, reports the Express.
These are typically planted in late autumn, but you can plant these in early January as long as the bulbs are still firm and show no signs of mould. Crocus bulbs planted in January are likely to put on the “best display” in their second year.
Three flowers you must plant now for a ‘colourful display of stunning blooms’ come spring
(Image: (Image: Getty))
2. Tulips.
When planted in January, tulips can produce a “colourful display of stunning blooms” in late spring in their first year. Tulip bulbs require a period of chilling to break their dormancy, so now is an excellent time to get them in the ground.
It is actually “best to plant tulip bulbs when the temperature has dropped” as this reduces the risk of tulip fire, a fungal disease that thrives in warm, damp conditions.
Gardening guru Monty Don has shared some top tips for January planting on his blog, reassuring garden enthusiasts that it’s “not too late” to plant tulip bulbs. He advises: “Tulips planted now might flower a little later than those planted in November but they will make a perfectly good display.”
To ensure a “good show” of blooms, Monty suggests planting the bulbs an inch or two deep in the topsoil.
3. Daffodils
Similarly, daffodils also benefit from a late planting as it allows them to root in spring and flower later in the year, while winter planting helps protect the bulbs from squirrels by accelerating soil freezing post-planting.