Choosing and planting spring bulbs
Dig It!
Wednesday, 21 October 2026 - 3 minutes
Asked to name her favourite plant, garden designer Hester Macdonald admits it depends on the season - but when it comes to great value year after year, the answer is easy: bulbs. They are relatively cheap, take up little space, often come back and even multiply, and deliver colour just when it is needed.
With crocuses and tulips now lighting up the garden centres, Hester explains why spring-flowering bulbs must be planted now, or any time until Christmas as long as the soil isn't frozen. She shares simple checks before buying - a gentle squeeze, a sniff for mould, smooth skins - and why mixed packs are cheaper. She also solves the puzzle of which way up they go, and how deep to plant them.
