From around February, we stock a wide selection of beautiful summer-flowering bulbs that will bring impressive flower displays to your garden, not only do they look fabulous growing in borders or containers, but they also make excellent cut blooms to adorn your home too!
We have lots to choose from, including the highly popular dahlias, iris, lilies, gladioli, and anemone to name but a few.
How to Plant Summer Flowering Bulbs
Most Summer-flowering bulbs prefer a warm, sunny position, the sunlight and warmth help to make the plants grow faster and flower more abundantly, however begonias also do very well in shady spots. Dahlias and begonias flower all summer long while lilies and gladioli flower in shorter vibrant bursts.
- Plant the bulb with the tip pointing upwards and the roots pointing downwards, this may seem obvious, but it can be difficult to tell which end of a bulb is the tip. If you can’t tell the tip from the roots, plant the bulb on its side.
- For dahlias lay the tuber horizontally with the “eye” (a small bump or sprout) facing upward, try not to break or damage the neck of the tuber as that’s where the growth begins.
- Generally, bulbs should be planted twice the depth of the bulb. Ideally, bulbs should be planted in well-drained, fertile soil, but in any case, grit should be added into the hole before planting.
- Fill in the hole and compact gently.
Do I Need to Lift Bulbs for Overwintering?
Many of our summer-flowering bulbs are hardy and only need to be planted once to enjoy blooms year after year, but some tender species such as dahlias and gladioli can’t survive the frost and should be lifted and stored over the Winter to be replanted again the next Spring.
Lilies – No need to lift; they can safely stay in the ground over winter.
Crocosmia – These can remain in the ground but apply thick mulch over winter.
Anemones – Leave them in the ground but cover with a mulch such as straw or dead leaves for protection.
Iris – Most irises are hardy and can stay in the ground but remember to ensure good drainage to prevent rot over winter.
Gladiolus – In mild areas, they may survive in the ground. However, it’s best to lift them after flowering and store them in a frost-free place for the winter, and replant from March onwards.
Dahlias – Lift after the first frost has blackened the foliage. Allow tubers to dry, then store in a cool, frost-free place over winter. In very mild areas, they can sometimes be left in the ground with a thick mulch for protection.
Our Favourites!
Dahlias are prolific bloomers, providing a profusion of flowers from midsummer to the first frost! They come in a wide array of colours, ranging from vibrant reds and oranges to soft pastels. We particularly love the bi-coloured varieties, their contrasting colours are so much fun, captivatingly beautiful, and are sure to bring flair and sophistication to the garden.
Dahlias are generally easy to grow with the right care, and offer a stunning display of flowers, their extended blooming season ensures a continuous display of colour in the garden, and they also make fantastic bouquets, making them popular choices for cut flower gardens.