Carol Klein plants Allium bulbs in her garden

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Some of the most popular bulbs – daffodils, tulips, crocuses and hyacinths – are planted in autumn. Hardy summer-flowering bulbs like lilies and alliums are also planted in September and October.

However, some plant bulbs can be planted in spring like gladioli, cosmos, lilies, dahlias freesias and irises.

While bulbs are easy to plant, it’s imperative gardeners make sure they’re planting the bulbs correctly.

If you’re new to planting bulbs or you’re not sure how to plant bulbs in spring, a gardening expert has shared his dos and don’ts for planting spring bulbs.

Gardening expert and director of Easy Garden Irrigation, Sean Lade, has shared his advice for planting bulbs in spring.

Dos

Sean suggested choosing high-quality bulbs from a reputable supplier to ensure the plants have good growth and flowering.

Bulbs also need to be planted in well-draining soil that has been loosened to a depth of at least 20cm.

To improve the fertility of the soil, gardeners should add fertiliser to the compost.

Sean added: “Plant bulbs at the correct depth, which is typically two or three times their own height.

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“This helps them to establish roots and avoid rotting.

“Water bulbs after planting and keep the soil moist but not waterlogged during their growing season.”

Gardeners should also consider planting bulbs near other plants to benefit insects and protect them from pests.

Companion planting will provide support and shelter for plants while also repelling pests by being sacrificial plants.

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Don’ts

Gardeners should avoid planting bulbs in soil that’s too wet or heavy as they could “rot” before they have a chance to grow.

Bulbs also should not be planted too shallowly as this can make them more susceptible to damage from frost and pests.

Sean continued: “Don’t overwater bulbs, as this can lead to water-logging and rotting.

“Don’t plant bulbs in an area that receives full shade, as they need sunlight to grow and flower.

“Don’t forget to label your bulbs after planting, so you can identify them later and avoid accidentally disturbing them during other gardening tasks.”

Some bulbs can be planted in the summer months like autumn-flowering plants.

Bulbs like lilies, alliums and tulips can also be planted in containers but these will need feeding every seven to 10 days with a fertiliser like tomato food.

The bulbs will need to be fed as soon as shoots appear and stopped when the foliage dies further on down the line.

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