Hey everyone! I'm creating a flower bed from scratch this autumn and into next spring, and I'm aiming for year-round color. I plan to plant daffodil and tulip bulbs for spring, and then add summer perennials next season. My question is: how can I plant both in the same bed without accidentally digging up the bulbs I just planted? I'm thinking of placing the bulbs randomly, but should I mark their locations to avoid disturbing them when I plant the summer flowers?
4 Answers
A neat trick is to lay out your bulbs where you want them and take a few photos from different angles. Then you’ll have a handy reference for later when you're planting your perennials. Just a heads up though: while random placements look nice, grouping bulbs in small clusters often ends up looking even better!
For a fuss-free approach, consider planting everything this early autumn. Hardy perennials thrive with warm soil in September and October. Plus, you can score some great deals on bare roots during end-of-season sales, which is a bonus!
It’s pretty much guaranteed you’ll accidentally dig up some bulbs when you plant in that area later. If that happens, just replant them! They're actually quite forgiving and will bounce back.
Marking the bulbs with sticks or a quick sketch is definitely a smart move! Plant your bulbs deeper—about 2-3 times their height—so you’ll only disturb the topsoil when you add perennials in the spring. Just keep track of where they are and don’t stress if you disturb one; they’re tougher than you think!
Absolutely! Clumping can really enhance the visual appeal of your flower bed. Just have fun with it!