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Planting flower bulbs 'naturally'
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Everyone is familiar with those beautiful gardens where Mother Nature seems to have combined the best from both nature and culture. For these, the secret is in the planting. And you can achieve it relatively simply with flower bulbs.
First, dig over the area you are going to plant, making it nice and loose. Next, take a handful of flower bulbs and scatter them carefully over the soil. Then plant the bulbs where they have fallen. Where several bulbs lie very close together, move them a little bit further apart, but in such a way that the natural effect is maintained. Try naturalised planting in oblong patches. This enhances the natural, playful effect.
Planting the bulbs in layers is also very effective. A favourite trick for pots and tubs, this will give a natural succession of flowers on a relatively small patch of ground which still maintains the informal look.
Arranged planting
Arranged planting, popular since olden times, offers the opposite effect to the gradual change in flower type that is the result of bulbs scattered at random. Start by loosening the soil as before, and then lay out your bulbs to form the outline of the shape you want (remembering the planting distances recommended on the packaging). Now you can fill up the circle, oval or other shape with your remaining bulbs, making sure that they are all the same distance apart in every direction. Once laid out, you can start planting the bulbs one by one, either by hand, with a trowel or with the handy automatic bulb planter.
Arranged planting has the advantage that the area you have reserved for planting bulbs will hold more plants per square metre, making the temporary display even more colourful.
Choosing colours
Flowers in pastel shades such as soft yellow, pink and violet are perfect for naturalised plantings. Bright primary colours are best for arranged plantings. This type of planting is more suitable for cultivated gardens, while naturalised planting is increasingly applied in less formal gardens.
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