How to prepare soil / flower bed for planting bulbs

Remove annuals by root

Remove any unwanted weeds

Sift the soil to remove any leaves, stones etc.

Add a top layer of compost (I used a peat based compost with added nutrients)

How to prepare soil / flower bed for planting bulbs

My note from the potting shed today concerns the planting of spring bulbs and the preparation thereof. It is a lovely time of year to be out in the garden, preparing the soil and not getting so hot that you turn into a “I’m melting, I’m melting” type of character.

Bulbs like tulips, hyacinths and daffodils are very hardy and actually need the long cold winter months before they can bloom to their full potential in Spring. With this in mind, Autumn is the best time to plant your spring bulbs (before the ground freezes) so they have time to develop strong roots.

Your bulbs need well drained soil or they will eventually rot, if the water drains quickly this is a good example of well drained soil.

Some soil has clay in it and this isn’t good for some bulbs (tulips are one of them) as the clay absorbs the water and can keep the soil too wet; you can however, improve your soil by adding soil based compost which also adds nutrients.

Here is how we are getting ready for our springtime bloom.

Start by preparing your area for your spring bulbs. At this time of year the soil should still be soft enough for digging and if you are preparing a small area I usually find that a hand fork is more than suitable.
If you have summer flowers (annuals) that needed clearing like I did, try and remove them by the root , then set them aside in a garden trug ready for composting. Making sure that any weeds go in to a separate bin as you don’t want to be composting them!
When your bed is cleared of annuals and weeds, sift the soil to get rid of any dried leaves, stones etc. I always do this as it keeps your soil in tip top condition and makes gardening in this spot easier and more productive. The soil is the bulb or the plants home and you want to make them happy residents.

You are then ready to start planting your bulbs.

Here’s a round up in pictures -