They need light sandy soil so only do any good in raised beds for me (clay soil eveywhere else in my garden.) For them to come back they need to be kept dry after they go dormant too.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
Thanks, Bob. so that they aren't resting on my clay soil, I have cocooned them in a mixture of mpc and grit. I shall just have to keep everything crossed. If they don't perform I shall have to try a raised bed. I wonder if anyone has tried growing them in pots? And whether that is more successful?
sounds like they have every chance! I usually just make a hole in the ground with my finger and stick them in (garden with London clay). They have come up fine, even with mulching in Autumn and strulching in spring. They are stunning.
Thanks Ginglygangly - I feel more hopeful now! As I planted them between 3 and 4 inches deep, I am worried that another layer of either mulch or strulch on top may be too much for them. They may give up growing before they reach the surface. But ....... I'm in North Yorks (Harrogate), so we might have a long winter of frozen soil and without a layer of mulch, they may not survive! Oh dear, decisions, decisions!
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They need light sandy soil so only do any good in raised beds for me (clay soil eveywhere else in my garden.) For them to come back they need to be kept dry after they go dormant too.
Thanks, Bob. so that they aren't resting on my clay soil, I have cocooned them in a mixture of mpc and grit. I shall just have to keep everything crossed. If they don't perform I shall have to try a raised bed. I wonder if anyone has tried growing them in pots? And whether that is more successful?
sounds like they have every chance! I usually just make a hole in the ground with my finger and stick them in (garden with London clay). They have come up fine, even with mulching in Autumn and strulching in spring. They are stunning.
Thanks Ginglygangly - I feel more hopeful now!
As I planted them between 3 and 4 inches deep, I am worried that another layer of either mulch or strulch on top may be too much for them. They may give up growing before they reach the surface. But ....... I'm in North Yorks (Harrogate), so we might have a long winter of frozen soil and without a layer of mulch, they may not survive! 
Oh dear, decisions, decisions!