Use these tips to make a big impact in your landscape with beautiful spring-flowering bulbs. With a little strategic planting, you’ll be able to enjoy these colorful plants for years to come.
Add Pockets of Color
David Goldberg
It’s easy to create bright, eye-catching accents by tucking small groups of bulbs among perennials, shrubs, or rocks. Choose bulbs with large flowers like daffodils, tulips, and alliums. Plant several bulbs close together to form a standout visual effect in your garden.ย
Combine Colors Wisely
Lynn Karlin
While bulbs are beautiful all on their own, combining different colors creates an even more breathtaking garden display. To simplify the process of choosing color combinations that bloom simultaneously, consider using prepackaged bulb collections available in catalogs or at garden centers near you.ย
Power in Numbers
Recreating the striking bold displays of bulbs seen in botanical gardens can be a challenging and costly process. Instead, use simpler combinations of two or three colors that you love. Arrange them in informal shapes that complement the lines of your garden beds for a beautiful effect.ย
Make a Meadow
Justin Hancock
Plant Siberian squill, crocus, and grape hyacinth bulbs in your garden to bloom spectacularly by the hundreds in early spring. These bulbs naturally multiply over time, making them ideal for creating charming “meadows” in lawns and beneath trees. For the most natural appearance, scatter them and plant wherever they land.ย
Plan for Continuous Color
David Speer
Ensure continuous spring color throughout the season by planting similar-looking bulbs with staggered bloom times. Consider three golden daffodil varieties: ‘Arctic Gold’ blooms from early to mid-spring, ‘Primeur’ in mid-spring, and ‘Pay Day’ during mid-to-late spring.ย
Pay Attention to Foliage
Peter Krumhardt
Instantly elevate your spring garden by incorporating beautiful flowers with variegated foliage. These selections ensure your landscape remains captivating even after blooms have faded. Top picks are tulips ‘Unicum,’ ‘New Design,’ and ‘Red Riding Hood;’ Camassia ‘Blue Melody’ and ‘Sacajawea’; and Fritillaria imperialis ‘Aureomarginata.’ย
Mark Late Perennials
Peter Krumhardt
Certain perennials, such as butterfly weed and perennial hibiscus, are slow to emerge in spring. Prevent bare spots in your garden by pairing them with spring-blooming bulbs. As the bulbs’ foliage fades, the perennials will begin to flourish.ย
Showcase Unusual Bulbs
Peter Krumhardt
While familiar favorites like daffodils and tulips look stunning in front of the house, consider incorporating unique bulbs to make a bold statement. Fritillarias offer an eye-catching display along walkways, and foxtail lilies serve as striking accents in any garden setting.ย