15 Spring Bulb Planting Ideas for UK Gardens

Late October is the perfect time to plant spring bulbs. A little effort now pays off with a wave of colour next year, from snowdrops to tulips.

Here are 15 spring bulb planting ideas for UK gardens to get you started.

1. Naturalised Daffodils in the Lawn

Scatter daffodil bulbs and plant them where they land for a natural drift. Leave the foliage to die back before mowing.

Plant tulips in late autumn in large pots for a bold patio display. Use gritty compost for drainage.

Layer tulips, daffodils and crocuses in one pot, with the largest bulbs at the bottom, for flowers from March to May.

Snowdrops thrive in dappled shade and spread into snowy carpets over the years.

Crocuses naturalise well in grass and are an early food source for bees. Mow after the foliage has died back.

Alliums look like purple fireworks among soft grasses and they are loved by pollinators.

A row of scented hyacinths in pots greets everyone who comes to your door.

Plant bulbs at two to three times their height, pointy end up. A trowel or bulb planter makes the job quicker.

These chequered flowers love damp grass and look beautiful in a wildflower meadow.

Choose native English bluebells for a woodland feel and always buy from a reputable grower.

Underplant tulips with forget-me-nots for a soft blue haze beneath bright blooms.

Mix small bulbs such as dwarf narcissi with pansies in a window box for months of colour.

Muscari make a lovely blue edging along a path and multiply quickly.

Buy bulbs early for the best choice, store them cool and dry and plant before the ground freezes.

Wallflowers bring scent and warm colours that pair beautifully with tulips in a spring border.

Bulbs are one of the easiest ways to guarantee colour in spring. Plant a few extra than you think you need.

Which bulbs will you be planting this year?

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