Layering Spring Bulbs in Pots and Containers

Layering spring bulbs in pots and containers is a brilliant way to create a glorious mini garden that blooms throughout the spring season in nearly any sized space from a large patio to a flat balcony. The technique, often referred to as creating a “bulb lasagne,” ensures that you have flowers popping up one after another – providing a beautiful display of colour from early spring to late spring – all in one pot! It’s very straightforward with a little effort and here’s how to do it, step by step.

What You’ll Need:

Horticultural Gravel or broken pottery for drainage (optional but recommended)

A large, deep pot (at least 30-40cm deep for best results)

Quality potting compost

A selection of spring bulbs with different blooming times

Choose Your Bulbs

For a gorgeous succession of blooms, you’ll want a mix of early, mid, and late-flowering bulbs. Here’s a reliable trio you can use:

• Early bloomers: Crocuses or snowdrops, which will pop up first.
• Mid-season flowers: Daffodils or hyacinths to continue the show.
• Late bloomers: Tulips to add that grand finale.

You can mix up the varieties to suit your preferences, but always consider their blooming times to ensure a continuous display. Most bulb packets indicate whether they are early, mid, or late flowering, so it’s easy to select the right ones.

Step-by-Step Guide to Layering Bulbs

1. Prepare Your Pot

Start by making sure your container has good drainage. Place some gravel or broken pottery shards at the bottom to help excess water escape as bulbs if overly wet will suffer and rot.

2. First Layer: Late Bloomers

Now for the fun part—planting! Start with the bulbs that bloom last (your tulips or any other late bloomers). Add a layer of compost at the base of the pot, around 20cm deep. Place the bulbs on top, with their pointy ends facing upwards, ensuring they have a bit of space between them.

Once you’ve laid them out, cover them with around 5-8cm of compost.

3. Second Layer: Mid-Season Flowers

Next up are the mid-season bulbs (like daffodils or hyacinths). Position them directly on top of the first layer, again ensuring the bulbs aren’t touching each other. Then, cover with more compost, another 5-8cm layer will do.

4. Top Layer: Early Bloomers

For the final layer, plant your early bloomers (such as crocuses or snowdrops). These bulbs should be the closest to the surface, only about 10cm deep. Cover them with your final layer of compost, making sure to leave a little space (about 2-3cm) from the top of the pot to prevent overflow when watering.

5. Water and Wait

Once all the bulbs are in, give the pot a good watering to settle the soil and bulbs. After that, keep the pot in a sheltered spot outdoors, as spring bulbs need the cold to help them grow.

Caring for Your Layered Pot

Through autumn and winter, your pot can stay outside, but make sure it doesn’t become waterlogged. Bulbs are hardy to an extent, but good drainage is key. You won’t need to water too much, as the bulbs are dormant and won’t be thirsty. Once spring approaches and you see signs of growth, you can give your bulbs a little more attention by watering them regularly.

Bonus Tips:

• Deadhead: When the flowers have faded and start to die deadhead them so they won’t waste energy producing seeds, and to keep it looking neat and vibrant.
• Variety in Colour and Height: If you want to add more variety, try choosing bulbs of different heights for each layer. Tall tulips will rise above low-growing crocuses, giving you a striking tiered effect.
• Compact Containers: If you’re using a smaller pot, simply reduce the number of layers. You can stick with just an early and mid-season combo for a lovely display.
• Feed for More Flowers: Once your bulbs begin to bloom, give them a feed with a balanced fertiliser to encourage more flowers and healthy growth.
• Deadhead: When the flowers have faded and start to die deadhead them so they won’t waste energy producing seeds, and to keep it looking neat and vibrant.

What to Expect

As spring arrives, your early bulbs will start pushing through, creating the first splash of colour. As they fade, your mid-season bulbs will take over, followed by the late bloomers. It’s a wonderful, dynamic way to enjoy months of flowering beauty from just one container. And, once you know how to do one, you could have more bulb lasagnes in pots around the garden.

Have a try at your own spring bulb lasagne, and here’s to a spring packed full of colour!