Planting Spring Bulbs Together

Lucy117

I have an ornamental cherry tree in my front garden which I’d really like to underplant with English Bluebells and Tulips. Would I be best to plant to the bluebells in the green now and then put the tulip bulbs in autumn time or would I be best to plant the bluebells as dry bulbs and plant them both at the same time in autumn?

josusa47

I should think plant them at the same time, simply to avoid damaging the first lot when you plant the later ones.

Obelixx

As far as I know bluebells and tulips like very different soil conditions so I'd go with daffs instead.   Bluebells grow in woodland clearings so richer soils and dappled shade which suits most daffs too.   Plant the bluebells now if you have them or can get them as dry bulbs don't have a huge success rate.   Put a little marker in and then plant daffodils from late August onwards.  

Tulips like better drainage and more sun than daffs or bluebells and, unless you go for the small botanicals, tend not to naturalise.  The bigger ones often fail to flower a second time or are weaker.

DampGardenMan

Obelixx said:

Plant the bluebells now if you have them or can get them as dry bulbs don't have a huge success rate.

I have read that it's better to lift bluebells when they're dormant, i.e. as dry bulbs rather than getting them "in the green". Less disturbance to them I guess and time for the leaves to replenish the bulb after the ardours of flowering. I bought my bluebells as dry bulbs and as far as one can see they've all come up and are doing well.

I've even read the same about snowdrops ... and once again my dry bulbs did well. Until the leaves were eaten by creature or creatures unknown.