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.
Interesting about the iris feeding. I’m just amazed these websites can clearly state them as perennial and write they come back year after year. Do Dutch summer irises come back every year or is that another lie? 😂
About the dying foliage, what do people think about planting tulips in front of daffs to hide the dying foliage? I guess you’re still going to have the issue with the tulip foliage.
I wouldn't be too concerned about hiding the dying foliage, there are usually other interesting plants like perennials and shrubs nearby to focus the eye on by that time! As pointed out earlier, daffodils tend to prefer a shady site, tulips are sun lovers. This may help you with your plans: Designing With Bulbs (gardenia.net)
I think iris retic are theoretically returning, perhaps in very sandy soils. We have discussed this on other threads and some mebers says the retic did come back for them. I have some planted in a sharp drained bed but they have never come back for me.
@Alfie_ Yes I agree with @Fire a sandy soil might help. I have planted them in a free draining soil in the past although not very sandy in full sun same problem. Not sure regarding Dutch Iris may depend on how happy they are, I would doubt if the display is as good year two especially after a wet winter. As said other iris are fine. I have grown so many bulbs over the years. You do go back to some old favourites if you want flowering to be good in future years.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Is there also an ideal time to plant the different bulbs? Although the manufacturers say sep-dec for spring bulbs lots of people seem to say doing tulips in Nov is important? Or does it not really matter? Just wondering if I can start planting them all now.
@Alfie_ I plant Tulips end of October early November cooler temperatures mean less chance of Tulip Fire which isn't common in my experience. Some large gardens dig up tulips after flowering as again year two not so good, flowers are smaller. The problem you may find is marking where you have been so that you don't dig up what you have already planted. If you dig up Narcissus at this time of year you will see they are already shooting so personally I would plant these now. Other gardeners are happy to plant in December or if some appear from the back of a shed January.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
A friend was admiring some daffodils in flower in my garden, in March. Me: They're supposed to flower in January actually. Friend: When did you plant them? Me: February.
Sorry to hijack the thread - I'm going to be planting crocus bulbs today in the lawn, throwing them & seeing how they land like suggested to OP. But I've got various colours (yellow, purple, white), packed separately. I can't figure out whether It'd look nicer having clumps of crocuses all the same colour or mixing colours within clumps. What does everyone else do?
I like to group the same colour together if planting small areas .......... but a meadow with random coloured flowers scattered all over it can look amazing.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Posts
About the dying foliage, what do people think about planting tulips in front of daffs to hide the dying foliage? I guess you’re still going to have the issue with the tulip foliage.
Not sure regarding Dutch Iris may depend on how happy they are, I would doubt if the display is as good year two especially after a wet winter. As said other iris are fine.
I have grown so many bulbs over the years. You do go back to some old favourites if you want flowering to be good in future years.
If you dig up Narcissus at this time of year you will see they are already shooting so personally I would plant these now. Other gardeners are happy to plant in December or if some appear from the back of a shed January.
Me: They're supposed to flower in January actually.
Friend: When did you plant them?
Me: February.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.