How to Plant Spring Bulbs in an Established Lawn
September 23rd, 2024 | Categories
Planting spring flowering bulbs in your lawn is one of the simplest ways to add a burst of colour and interest come spring. Imagine stepping out into your garden and seeing a carpet of daffodils, crocuses, or tulips peeking through the grass. An instant mood lifter after a long winter that’s for sure! They’ll flower every spring for many years to come too.
If you’ve never tried planting bulbs in your lawn before, don’t worry. We’ll guide you through the process so that you can enjoy a natural, meadow-like display right in your own garden.
Why Plant Bulbs in Your Lawn?
Bulbs like crocuses, snowdrops, and daffodils naturalise wonderfully in grassy areas creating beautiful spring displays. Once planted, they return year after year, often spreading out and giving you an even bigger display of colour over time. They also provide an early source of nectar for bees when not much is available. Plus, it brings a lot of joy with the colour, and signals the weather warming and life returning. Sold? Then let’s dig into the details of how to plant bulbs in your lawn successfully.
What You’ll Need:
A sprinkling of bulb fertiliser (optional): This helps boost the bulbs, especially in the first year. Optional but highly recommended.
Bulbs: Choose varieties that work well in lawns, such as crocuses, snowdrops, daffodils, or tulips.
A bulb planter or garden trowel: Either tool works well to dig individual holes for each bulb.
Garden fork or spade: To loosen the soil if it’s compacted.
Step-by-Step Guide to Planting Bulbs in Your Lawn
Choose the Right Spot
Pick a part of your lawn that gets plenty of sunlight in the spring. Bulbs like crocuses and daffodils thrive in sunny areas, but some varieties, like snowdrops, can handle a bit of shade. Tip: If you can, avoid areas with heavy foot traffic. You don’t want people stepping on the emerging bulbs!
Prepare the Ground
Before you start planting, mow the lawn short to give yourself clear visibility and easier access to the soil. If your lawn soil is compacted, use a garden fork to gently loosen it up. This will help the bulbs establish roots and prevent waterlogging.
Scatter the Bulbs Naturally
For a more natural, meadow-like appearance, toss the bulbs gently across the lawn. Don’t overthink this part as it’s meant to look random and organic. Once scattered, you can start planting them right where they land. Aim for a mix of clusters and individuals for the best effect.
Planting Depth
Using your bulb planter or trowel, dig a hole about 2-3 times as deep as the bulb itself (usually around 4-6 inches deep, depending on the type of bulb). Place the bulb pointy end up and cover it back up with soil, pressing it down lightly to avoid air pockets. Tip: If you’re planting smaller bulbs like crocuses, you can plant them a little closer to the surface (around 3 inches deep), while larger bulbs like daffodils need to go a bit deeper. The general rule is about three times their own length.
If you are only planting lots of small bulbs, and are planting in a smaller lawn area, you can make planting easy by cutting the turf to lift it, then place the bulbs in the soil underneath.
Space Them Out
Bulbs need room to grow, so give them about 4-6 inches of space between each one or clump. You can plant them a little closer if you want a denser display, but don’t overcrowd them too much. If you’ve tossed the bulbs across the lawn, follow their random spacing to keep the natural look.
Water the Bulbs In
Once all your bulbs are tucked into the soil, give them a good watering. This helps settle the soil and kickstarts root growth before winter. After this, you can largely leave them to their own devices and wait for them to appear in spring.
Bulb Aftercare
Once your bulbs are planted, they need very little attention. The great thing about bulbs in lawns is that they do their thing quietly beneath the surface, and all you have to do is wait for spring.
Other Essential Tips
Spring Lawn Care and Mowing: Hold off on mowing your lawn until the bulb foliage has fully died back which can be around 6 weeks after flowering. This ensures the bulbs are well-nourished for the next season.
Leave the Leaves and Stems: Once your bulbs have flowered, let the foliage die back naturally. The leaves are busy photosynthesising and storing energy for next year’s blooms, so avoid mowing over them too soon.
Now Wait for the Show!
Come spring, you’ll see the rewards of your effort when those vibrant flowers start popping up through the grass. Over time, your bulbs will spread naturally, creating an even more spectacular display year after year. Whether you’re going for a riot of crocuses or a patchwork of daffodils, planting bulbs in your lawn is an easy and rewarding way to enhance your garden. Happy planting!
