Is anything as frustrating as bulb planting that results in a barren landscape? Well, this method will bring an end to dashed hopes and deliver a vista of jewels instead
The pure white elegance of a snowdrop on a cold wintry day can take your breath away. They are a symbol of hope, and of warmer times to come, but anyone who has tried to grow them by planting bulbs in autumn will know how frustrating it can be when, come February, they simply haven’t appeared.
Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) are notoriously difficult to grow. Dormant bulbs can very often dry out, meaning the winter showstoppers you have been so looking forward to are no-shows. The way to overcome this is by planting in the green, which almost guarantees these hardy perennials with delicate bell-shaped flowers will break through the snow-covered ground.
Planting bulbs in the green simply means digging and replanting them just after they have flowered, while they are still growing. Transplanting them before the leaves turn yellow will give you the greatest chance of success for next year. It will also give you the opportunity to divide the clump and fill in any bare patches you can see in your borders, so they will look fuller by the time they flower next year.
This ‘in the green’ technique can be used with other difficult-to-grow bulbs such as fritillaria, crocus, bluebells, aconites and wild garlic.
More plants to buy in the green...
How to plant
1. Prepare the ground by removing weeds, perennial roots and other debris and add a layer of good quality compost.
2. Carefully dig up the clumps and plant straight away into the newly prepared ground, at the same depth as they were before.
3. Spacing is important. Leave enough of a gap between clumps so they can spread.
4. Let the foliage die back naturally, allowing the leaves to transfer nutrients to the bulb and ensuring an even bigger display the following year.
5. Never dig up wild snowdrops. Order from a reputable supplier.
WHEN AND WHERE TO SEE SNOWDROPS
Walking through a drift of serene snowdrops can lift the spirits in
