If you’ve ever admired a garden bursting with colour in summer and wondered how it was achieved, chances are summer-flowering bulbs played a big part.
Relatively easy to grow, summer-flowering bulbs are ideal for large gardens, smaller spaces and outdoor areas such as patios and balconies.
Beginner’s Guide to Summer-Flowering Bulbs
Many varieties also offer beautifully scented blooms, adding another layer of enjoyment to your garden.
There’s a huge choice available, encompassing bulbs, corms and tubers, and by planting a mix of different varieties you can enjoy flowers over a long season.
Here are just some popular names you may recognise:
Companion planting
With so many colours and flower forms to choose from, it’s worth thinking about the overall effect you’d like to create. Mixing and matching varieties can give you a joyful, summer-long burst of colour in your borders, while more deliberate pairings can create real impact.
Companion planting works particularly well in containers on patios or dotted around the garden. Try tall, bright orange lilies with shorter yellow dahlias for a ‘firework’ display, or peach-toned gladiolus combined with white echinacea for a softer, more elegant look.
If you’d prefer to keep things simple, look out for packets of mixed bulbs. These are often colour coordinated, making it easy to choose between a bold, vibrant display or something more subtle. They’re also designed with varying heights in mind, helping to add depth and interest to borders and containers.
Planting for bees and butterflies
Summer-flowering bulbs can also play an important role in supporting garden wildlife. Many varieties provide valuable nectar for bees and butterflies during the warmer months.
One easy option is to choose a specially selected bee-and butterfly-friendly bulb pack. Alternatively, you can create your own mix. Some good choices include:
- Echinacea
- Freesia
- Gladiolus
- Ixia
- Liatris
How to plant summer-flowering bulbs
Timing is key when planting summer-flowering bulbs. Start as early as you can once the risk of frost has passed, and the soil has begun to warm. While bulbs can be planted later in the season, early planting will give you the best chance of flowers throughout summer.
Some gardeners like to start bulbs off indoors in pots for an early display, planting them out once conditions improve. Wherever possible, plant bulbs soon after purchase for the best results.
Most summer-flowering bulbs prefer a sunny position with well-drained soil. If your garden has partial shade, begonias are a good choice as they tolerate lower light levels.
Adding compost or well-rotted manure will help plants establish strongly but be sure to mix this thoroughly into the soil before planting.
Planting Tips
- As a general rule, plant bulbs at a depth of two to three times their height. Always check the packet for specific guidance.
- Space bulbs roughly one bulb-width apart.
- Place bulbs into the hole with the shoot or pointed end facing upwards.
- Cover with soil and gently firm down – avoid treading the soil flat, as this can damage the bulb.
- Soil is often moist at this time of year, so only water if conditions are particularly dry.
Planting bulbs in containers
When planting summer-flowering bulbs in containers, position them slightly deeper than you would in borders – around three times the height of the bulb. As before, leave roughly one bulb-width between each bulb.
Use a good quality compost and mix in some grit to improve drainage. Once planted, water the bulbs in well. Continue to water regularly, but take care not to overwater, as this can cause bulbs to rot.
For an even easier option, ready-to-plant kits are available. These biodegradable trays come pre-filled with carefully chosen bulbs designed to give a co-ordinated display and are available in a range of sizes and shapes to suit most containers.
So – what are you waiting for?
Whether you prefer a ready-made display or enjoy experimenting with colours and varieties yourself, summer-flowering bulbs are a fantastic choice for gardeners of all experience levels. There’s nothing quite like watching your bulbs grow into beautiful summer flowers.
We stock a huge range across all our garden centres, including individual bulbs, mixed packs, bee-and butterfly-friendly selections and ready-to-plant kits. Our dahlia range is particularly impressive, with colours to suit every style of garden. You’ll also find everything you need to get started, from compost and grit to a wide choice of containers.
Start planning now and you’ll be rewarded with colour, scent and interest from early summer right through to autumn.
Visit your local Otter Garden Centre to explore our range of summer-flowering bulbs.
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