When summer hits do you wish you had a little bit more happening in your garden?
There are loads of bulbs and perennials that are summer (and even fall) bloomers, and when you take some time to plan your garden to take advantage of these staggered bloom times, your garden can explode into almost nonstop color!
First things first! Take stock of what is existing in your garden right now, noting your plants’ bloom time, height, color, and texture. These are the elements you’ll want to cover in order to have extended blooming. When you look over your list, you’ll see where the gaps are — and that’s what you want to fill in.
Maybe you have some summer bloomers, but they’re all in pink and none are taller for the back of the border. Or perhaps you realize that you’ve inadvertently crowded all of your summer bloomers in one spot, or the colors you’ve planted seem kind of muddy. Don’t despair; this is all good information to have.
Once you have the information above, it’s time to fill in the gaps. Follow these steps to get that nonstop bloom you crave:
So you have your bulbs and perennials, and you’re ready to plant — now what? How do you add these plants in smartly, and with a nod to garden design?
Planting bulbs and perennials together is one of the best ways to create a garden with nonstop color and interest from early spring through fall. By combining these two types of plants, you can extend the flowering season and design stunning plant combinations that look professionally designed.
Why Grow Bulbs and Perennials Together
There are several key reasons why gardeners mix bulbs and perennials
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Extend bloom times – Bulbs bloom early in spring while most perennials don’t start flowering until early summer. By combining the two, you fill in the gap from late spring through early summer so there’s always something blooming.
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Hide bulb foliage – Once bulbs are done flowering, their foliage starts to decline. Interplanting perennials helps hide this unsightly foliage.
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Create interesting plant combinations – Mixing flowers of different heights, shapes, and colors creates gorgeous plant pairings.
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Attract pollinators – Bulbs and perennials offer nectar and pollen from early spring through fall to support bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
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Provide structure and focal points – Bulbs emergence in spring draws the eye while perennials act as living sculptures with their unique forms and stature.
Tips for Combining Bulbs and Perennials
Follow these tips to successfully integrate spring flowering bulbs into perennial beds and borders:
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Consider bloom times – To extend flowering, combine early blooming bulbs with summer and fall perennials. Some good options are tulips, daffodils, crocus, and hyacinths.
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Factor in bulb foliage – Place shorter perennials near fading bulb foliage to disguise it. Examples include candytuft, catmint, and lavender.
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Choose complementary colors – For impact, combine bulbs and perennials with contrasting or complementary colors. Purple and yellow are striking together.
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Vary heights and forms – Mix tall, medium, and short varieties as well as different flower shapes such as spikes, mounds, and spires.
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Mass bulbs in drifts – Bulbs make the biggest impact when planted in large clumps of at least 10-50 bulbs of one variety.
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Right plant, right place – Consider site conditions and plant bulbs where they and the perennials thrive. Most require full sun and well-drained soil.
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Allow enough space – Give bulbs room to grow. Plant 10-12 medium bulbs per square foot. They shouldn’t be crowded.
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Add spring ephemerals – Early bloomers like snowdrops, crocus, and winter aconite add a pop of color before bigger bulbs emerge.
Ideal Bulb and Perennial Combinations
Here are some of the best bulb and perennial pairings for stunning spring through fall displays:
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Crocus, miniature daffodils, and thrift (Armeria)
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Tulips and creeping phlox (Phlox subulata)
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Large daffodils and catmint (Nepeta)
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Snowdrops and hellebore (Helleborus)
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Winter aconite and carpet bugleweed (Ajuga)
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Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) and hardy geranium (Geranium cinereum)
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Alliums and coral bells (Heuchera)
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Lilies and gayfeather (Liatris spicata)
When to Plant Bulbs With Perennials
Bulbs are planted in the fall while perennials are typically planted in the spring or summer after the danger of frost. Here is the ideal timeline:
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Fall – Plant bulbs from September through November, depending on your zone. Work around existing perennials.
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Winter – Mulch planted bulbs with 2-3 inches of organic matter for winter protection.
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Spring – Deadhead spent perennials and cut back any winter damage.
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Summer – Finish filling in holes and add new perennials and annuals if desired.
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Fall – Plant more bulbs as desired around established perennials.
How to Plant Bulbs Into Perennial Gardens
The basic steps for planting bulbs among perennials are:
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Determine where you want to add bulbs to an existing bed and which varieties.
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Remove any dead foliage and debris from the bed. Loosen the soil with a spade.
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Dig holes for bulbs, spacing them 3-6 inches apart depending on their mature size. The depth should be 2-3 times their height.
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Place bulbs in the holes with pointy side up. Higher fertility soil or bone meal can be added.
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Backfill the holes and water the bulbs well. Consider spreading mulch over the bed.
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Water occasionally if rainfall is low and watch for sprouts in early spring.
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For impact, plant bulbs in large clusters rather than singly. Repeat bulbs throughout the bed.
By incorporating bulbs and perennials, you can create a stunning garden that has waves of color spring through fall. Pay attention to bloom times, plant combinations and spacing when designing your beds and borders. With a bit of planning, you can easily mix these two staple plants of the garden.
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When summer hits do you wish you had a little bit more happening in your garden?
There are loads of bulbs and perennials that are summer (and even fall) bloomers, and when you take some time to plan your garden to take advantage of these staggered bloom times, your garden can explode into almost nonstop color!
First things first! Take stock of what is existing in your garden right now, noting your plants’ bloom time, height, color, and texture. These are the elements you’ll want to cover in order to have extended blooming. When you look over your list, you’ll see where the gaps are — and that’s what you want to fill in.
Maybe you have some summer bloomers, but they’re all in pink and none are taller for the back of the border. Or perhaps you realize that you’ve inadvertently crowded all of your summer bloomers in one spot, or the colors you’ve planted seem kind of muddy. Don’t despair; this is all good information to have.
Once you have the information above, it’s time to fill in the gaps. Follow these steps to get that nonstop bloom you crave:
- Make a list of the gaps (“no mid-summer thru fall bloom,” “need taller plants for late summer color in purple,” “early summer color is clashing,” etc.).
- Now make a list of summer-blooming bulbs and perennials you love and want to add, noting their color, bloom time, height, and texture just as you did with your existing plants. Here are some to get you going and inspire you:
- Determine what bulbs and perennials you’d like to add to your garden.
- Following your area’s recommendations for best planting times as well as planting guidelines for the material you want to add, create a schedule for adding these plants to your garden. Get your bulb order in, and be on the lookout for plant sales at your local garden center.
- Be patient. Creating a garden with layers of bulbs and perennials for nonstop bloom can take a while to complete. And when you’re a gardener, you know that no garden is ever really complete, right?
So you have your bulbs and perennials, and you’re ready to plant — now what? How do you add these plants in smartly, and with a nod to garden design?
Remember to have evergreen plants in your bed
Shrubs, ornamental trees, and some ornamental grasses can add winter form and texture to a perennial- and bulb-heavy garden.
Designers call these “massed plantings” or “drifts,” and they create more impact than planting one bulb here and one perennial there. Bulbs, in particular, are much more effective when planted in groupings. Plant up to 50 small bulbs, 12 medium-sized bulbs, and 3-6 large bulbs for large swaths of color.
Instead of mixed dahlias, plant a grouping of one type of dahlia in one color next to a different grouping of lilies, for example. Mixing colors diffuses the impact — go bold instead.
How to Plant Bulbs in Perennial Beds
FAQ
Can I plant other plants on top of bulbs?
Two layers of bulbs in a pot works well, but you can plant up to three layers for a real show stopper of a display. You can also plant ‘pot toppers’ like violas, pansies, cyclamen and heather for colour through the winter. Begin by picking spring flowering bulbs and plants that boast varying heights and bloom times.
What do you put in a hole when planting bulbs?
Add an inch or more of compost, and then sprinkle some bulb booster or organic fertilizer in the bottom of the hole. Loosen the soil in the bottom of the hole with a hand tool, mixing the fertilizer and compost with the soil. Next, arrange the bulbs in the hole. Plant them pointy end up.
Can you plant perennials on top of daffodils?
Plants perennials in front of and on sides of your daffodil clumps. Best ones for me have been Shasta daisy, echinacea, rudbeckia, and Verbascum. These bulk up quickly and hide the dying foliage. Perennial grasses are pretty good too.
Do I soak bulbs before planting?
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QFB Gardeninghttps://www.qfbgardening.comWhich bulbs should be soaked before planting? – QFB GardeningFor some flower bulbs, it’s beneficial to soak them in water before planting. Specifically, anemone and ranunculus bulbs should be soaked in water before planti…
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Home and Gardenhttps://home.howstuffworks.comTips for Growing Bulbs – Home and GardenSoak fall-planted bulbs for 12 hours in warm water before planting. This moisturizing method works with tunicate-type bulbs (neatly enclosed round or teardrop-s…
How do I add bulbs and perennials to my garden?
Determine what bulbs and perennials you’d like to add to your garden. Following your area’s recommendations for best planting times as well as planting guidelines for the material you want to add, create a schedule for adding these plants to your garden. Get your bulb order in, and be on the lookout for plant sales at your local garden center.
How do I choose the best bulbs & perennials?
To create the best bulb and perennial plant combinations, tuck bulbs around existing plants in the fall. Other reliable bulbs for extra early-spring color include snowdrops, crocus, Scilla, Puschkinia, narcissus, and Eranthis. Don’t overlook native wildflowers when you plan your shade garden.
What can you plant in a perennial garden?
Shrubs, ornamental trees, and some ornamental grasses can add winter form and texture to a perennial- and bulb-heavy garden. Designers call these “massed plantings” or “drifts,” and they create more impact than planting one bulb here and one perennial there. Bulbs, in particular, are much more effective when planted in groupings.
How many bulbs should I plant in a row?
Designers call these “massed plantings” or “drifts,” and they create more impact than planting one bulb here and one perennial there. Bulbs, in particular, are much more effective when planted in groupings. Plant up to 50 small bulbs, 12 medium-sized bulbs, and 3-6 large bulbs for large swaths of color.
How do I start a nonstop blooming garden?
Get your bulb order in, and be on the lookout for plant sales at your local garden center. Be patient. Creating a garden with layers of bulbs and perennials for nonstop bloom can take a while to complete. And when you’re a gardener, you know that no garden is ever really complete, right?
Are bulbs and perennials summer bloomers?
There are loads of bulbs and perennials that are summer (and even fall) bloomers, and when you take some time to plan your garden to take advantage of these staggered bloom times, your garden can explode into almost nonstop color! First things first!