Gardener shares ‘genius’ bulb planting hack that will give you months of spring flowers & it takes seconds to do
GREEN-FINGERED homeowners have been amazed by a gardener’s simple hack that will ensure flowers throughout spring.
Hannah Rowson recommended using a pot that’s at least 6-8 inches deep to make a “bulb lasagne.”
Rowson is the Assistant Garden Centre Manager at J. Parker’s, which is a family-run business specializing in gardening supplies.
The retailer (@jparkersbulbs) unexpectedly went viral on TikTok when they shared a tutorial for making a bulb lasagne.
Rowson said her technique of layering bulbs allows you to create a colourful and continuous display of spring blooms all in a single pot.
“Choose a pot that’s deep enough to accommodate the tallest bulbs,” she said.
“As a general rule of thumb, for a two-layered bulb lasagne, your pot needs to be at least 6-8 inches deep, and even deeper still if you’re planning on adding more layers.
“Don’t forget to make sure your pot has adequate drainage so that your pot doesn’t become waterlogged over the wetter months.”
As the tallest and latest flowering bulbs should be at the bottom, she opted for daffodils as the first to plant in the viral video.
However, tulips can work just as well for the first layer.
She then used hyacinths for the middle followed by early flowering large crocuses.
“[Use] a thick layer of compost to separate your bulb lasagne and top off your pot with a layer of grit,” she said.
The bulb lasagne should then be placed in a sheltered spot for continuous flowers throughout spring.
Rowson revealed the blooms don’t need much attention during autumn and winter for impressive results.
“I prefer planting the bulbs in moist soil and letting the weather handle the rest,” she said.
“No need to water yourself unless we have a particularly dry autumn.”
Bulbs to plant now for a beautiful summer display
The Sun's Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared her top five bulbs to plant in your garden or in pots, over the next couple of weeks to have a lovely display during the summer months.
Summer bulbs are guaranteed to bring light and colour to your outside space and are a perfect way to transform a drab bed or area.
Have a look at online voucher sites like Wowcher or Living Social which often have incredible deals on summer bulbs – the other day I spotted 300 bulbs for £29.99, bargain!
They can be planted – pointed end up – about three times the bulb depth. And they can go straight into the ground or into pots.
The beauty of pots is that they can be moved around the garden to brighten up a corner – or if you fancy a bit of a transformation.
When it comes to colour, designers suggest that you go for bright reds and yellows near your back door – which tricks the eye into making your garden look bigger.
And if you go for paler blues and pinks at the end of the garden, it makes it look longer. So experiment with different colour schemes to see which brings you the most joy.
If you fancy a tropical theme – you can go for bulbs like Crocosmia – which show off big greeny space filling foilage for months – then stun with bright yellowy orange spikey flowers later in the summer.
It comes back bigger each year – which is great and not so great when it starts to take over. Calla lilies, Cannas and lilies are also very tropical looking.
Gladioli are fabulous and showy for cottage garden feels, and not only do Peonies look fab – they come back year after year, which is great for your budget.
Dahlias are absolutely all the rage at the moment – garden influencers love them because they’re an instant Instagram hit. They take a bit of work with pinching out and supports – but are absolute showstoppers.
Almost 40,000 people watched the TikTok video and many viewers praised the idea.
“Because gardening shouldn’t cost a fortune,” the retailer captioned it.
One person described the hack as “genius,” while another said it “looks fascinating.”
“I’m definitely going to give it a go this weekend,” a third chimed in.