Planting bulbs on grit sanded area

paulpuk2000

I'm about to plant, somewhat belatedly I know, a lot of bulbs (Crocus, Hyacinth, Tulips, Snowdrops) but half of the area, where I want to plant these, has had loads of paving flags on it & I've taken these up, in an effort to make a mini-meadow, along with the other half, that was part of the lawn.  Do you think it'll be OK to just plant the bulbs without any 'new surfacing' (lawn, for example) and let nature take it's course?  Or do you think it might look a little incongruous with half as former lawn, and half as grit sand-covered area, or will nature gradually mask these?  I'd appreciate your advice on this.

Hostafan1

IMHO nature will " mask " it with weeds. 
You could let the bulbs do their thing, then , after they've died down sow some grass seed on top?

paulpuk2000

Oh, of course.  Hadn't thought of that route.  See how it looks, then sow grass seed, if I think it needs it.  I should also add that I will be seeding it with the Gardener's World magazine seed mix, which I ran out of time to do, last year.  So I guess that would help the 'masking' effect.  Thank you. 

Hostafan1

It might be worth adding some organic matter before you add your bulbs. You can never have Too Much . Easier now than after the bulbs are planted.

paulpuk2000

Was going to add a little & a little grit sand should probably fall into the hole too, for a bit of drainage help.

Plantminded

A quick and inexpensive way to improve the look of an area like the one you have described is to cover the area with a mulch of bark chips, about a couple of inches.  It will keep weeds out and give your bulbs some protection from inquisitive beasts!  You can move it aside and use it elsewhere when you are ready to sow your seed.

paulpuk2000

That's another gr8 idea, which gives me temporary protection.  Thx.  I have some mare's tail there too, against the fence, so it could possibly stop that from re-appearing.  Never know your luck?

Plantminded

I'm afraid the bark mulch won't deter your mare's tail @paulpuk2000 - it requires much more drastic action.  Here's a link to an old forum thread, it will give you some ideas:

Mares Tail - how to win — BBC Gardeners' World Magazine (gardenersworld.com)

paulpuk2000

Yeah.  I consider myself a bit of a veteran with Mare's Tail, despite being a beginner gardener.  I've left a comment on there, which,  I found, helped to at least some degree, with Mare's Tail.