BULB BONANZA

Gently nodding golden daffodils; swathes of crocuses; jewel-coloured tulips… Spring-flowering bulbs herald an end to winter and bring colour back to the garden after its period of dormancy. Easy to grow and resilient, they give a reliable and colourful display with minimum effort required – most will naturalise over time and pop up unaided year after year. So whether you aim for a carpet of flowers planted under deciduous trees, massed displays in borders, or even a few in potted combinations, make some room for bulbs in your garden, whatever its size.

Planting plans

Autumn is the ideal time to start planting your succession of choices – whether bulbs, corms, tubers or rhizomes – while the soil is still warm, finishing in early December before the coldest winter weather sets in. When you buy bulbs you acquire a bag full of promises to come; through the energy stored within they will transform into an array of lovely