August is the true starting gun for autumn-flowering bulbs. Now is the time to plant autumn crocus and colchicums so you can enjoy their mauve blooms as early as September. Here’s how to get them off to a good start in your garden.
Pick a sunny spot
These bulbs thrive on warmth and light. Choose a corner of the garden, a rockery, or a lawn that gets sun for most of the day. They’ll do just as well in open ground as in a pot on a terrace.
Prepare well-drained soil
Standing moisture is a bulb’s worst enemy. Loosen the soil deeply and work in a little sand or gravel if yours is heavy and clay-based, so the bulbs don’t end up rotting.
Plant at the right depth
Bury each bulb about 8 to 10 cm deep, tip facing up, spacing colchicums roughly 15 cm apart. They often flower before they even grow leaves, a little bit of garden magic.
Water sparingly
A light watering right after planting is enough to wake the bulb up. After that, let nature take over: these hardy bulbs need almost no care to put on a beautiful show every autumn.