Layer Bulbs for Maximum Color

Bulbs are wonderful flowers that can greatly enhance any garden if you know how to place and combine them for maximum effect. Many of us struggle with keeping our borders looking great through every season, and making the most of small garden spaces. I want to show you how to use bulbs in addition to the other plants in your border and how to combine groups of bulbs together with a technique called layering. This will allow you to make the most of any garden.

Extending Bloom Time by Layering Bulbs

Most bulbs have a short bloom time of just a few weeks, then start to fade it is useful to plant them in combination with other plants, especially in a small garden space or mixed border. For example, you can use a group of bulbs between larger perennials like Daylilies or Hostas to provide color and interest while the others are still dormant or small. Bulbs can be planted in the same space by paying careful attention to suggested planting depths as each occupies its own preferred area.

A wonderful perennial for cottage borders is the Threadleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata) but they are to be planted 24″ apart and when they are dormant it will leave a bare spot in your border during winter and early spring. Here’s where the bulbs come into play.

How to Plant Your Layered Bulbs

In the Fall, which is a great time to plant bulbs, use a shovel to dig out a larger hole 12″ in diameter between the two Coreopsis plants (or daylilies or hostas or roses or whatever perennials you want to compliment). Place the larger bulbs that need to be planted deeper at the bottom. For example, I might place one Crown Imperial (Fritillaria imperialis) about 8″ deep in the very center of the hole. Place 6 of the larger variety daffodil bulbs equal distance around the outside of the circle. Add 2″ of soil so the hole is about 6″ deep and plant your next layer of bulbs; perhaps 12 Glory-of-the-Snow (Chionodoxa lucilia) or Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria majalis) might be nice choices. Fill in another 2″ of soil and add two dozen early blooming bulbs like crocus species, my personal favorite, or snowdrops. Fill in the remaining soil and water well.

By the time your summer blooming perennial has filled in and begun its show you will already have enjoyed a full season of dazzling blooms in what would have been otherwise wasted garden space. By learning to combine bulbs in a succession of layers you will be able to maximize your garden’s potential.

Look at the author’s personal blog photos too see a sample of a layered bulb garden.