Where do you live? Crocus and dwarf Iris don't flower in January here - mid to end of February for those. Both types of Iris you have aren't reliably perennial either. They diminish over time. I'm lucky if I get a few of either in the 2nd year. You might be better potting those separately, and just slotting them in somewhere, or having them as a separate display near your house. I often have crocus above daffs, as they aren't planted as deeply. Daffs and bigger tulip bulbs can benefit from being planted deeper, especially if your soil dries out readily at that time of year. Be aware that the smaller bulbs, regardless of type, can get dug up by squirrels too, if you have them. If you have species tulips, they'll certainly come back, and will multiply if they're happy, but like any other type, they need sun and well drained soil. Daffs vary with timing depending on the variety, so unless the ones you have are all the same, it's worth checking those carefully too, and placing them well, so that you don't have loads all flowering at the same time, then nothing
Thanks for this info. It’s says the Iris Reticulata and botanical crocus are perennial on the website so that’s a bit misleading 😂
I filtered the tulips to ‘perennial’ instead of ‘short lived’:
If you want a specific look, for example different sized, sometimes overlapping single-species clumps, it would help to use marker spray. Draw your areas on the bare soil. I always think I can remember where I have planted what, and I always end up forgetting.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
By the way you'll soon mix the bulbs up through dividing perennials and lifting dahlias etc anyway; I think you have to accept they'll end up a bit mingled.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
I would like some advice on how to plant my spring bulbs in terms of patterns.
Do you want patterns?
I am finding that the most successful lasagna planting is with various layers of the same bulbs - a single variety. It gives good density and one layer comes up later than the other - so it can work as a succession.
I think most people find that iris retic doesn't return. Easy bulbs for returning are snowdrops and daffodils - both bulk up and multiply. Scilla can be great too. There are some lovely species tulips out there. Snowdrops are best bought and planted in the green after April.
I would like some advice on how to plant my spring bulbs in terms of patterns.
Do you want patterns?
I am finding that the most successful lasagna planting is with various layers of the same bulbs - a single variety. It gives good density and one layer comes up later than the other - so it can work as a succession.
I think most people find that iris retic doesn't return. Easy bulbs for returning are snowdrops and daffodils - both bulk up and multiply. Scilla can be great too. There are some lovely species tulips out there. Snowdrops are best bought and planted in the green after April.
Thanks. Do you layer in your borders or just pots? Are you finding the single species layering better because with multiple mixed tulips in a layer, for example, will come up at slightly different times?
Any good species tulips you recommend in particular?
I only really plant tulips in pots so have only tried layering that way.
I have tried planting the bulbs out in beds once they have flowered (just to see what would havppen). Not a huge success so far, but think I may have planted the bulbs too shallowly.
I understand that feeding Iris reticulata after flowering can help. If you lift them after flowering you will notice they start to form tiny bulbils. Also the original bulbs are smaller. Year two they are not big enough to flower. I like to scatter bulbs but I should have said of the same variety. Tulips can look good in rows if the border is more formal. The biggest problem with the different flowering times is the leaves from the earlier flowering bulbs which can't be cut back.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
I like to scatter bulbs but I should have said of the same variety.
I should have said that too! It works well with tulips, I prefer a less formal look but it can be very striking in formal rows, unless one of the bulbs fails or produces more than one flower!
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https://www.farmergracy.co.uk/collections/tulip-bulbs-uk?refinementList%5Bnamed_tags.lifecycle%5D%5B0%5D=Perennial
Any good species tulips you recommend in particular?
Luxembourg
I like to scatter bulbs but I should have said of the same variety. Tulips can look good in rows if the border is more formal. The biggest problem with the different flowering times is the leaves from the earlier flowering bulbs which can't be cut back.