Planting For A Perfect Spring
With Spring bloom bulb planting season now upon us, it’s a perfect time to look at the planters themselves.
The range of Spring flowers is reasonably diverse, with early blooms such as Daffodils and Snowdrops heralding the new season. We’ve already passed the planting season for these, so we’ll focus on that perennial favourite, the Tulip.
For a perfectly vibrant display of tulips in spring, planting bulbs in autumn is best. Once the soil has cooled, usually late October to November in most of the UK, bulbs can safely be planted. In the warmer south, you can start a little later. In the north of Scotland it’s possible to start late September and still avoid premature sprouting. Choose a sunny, well-drained spot and plant bulbs three times as deep as their height—typically about 15cm—with around 10cm between each one. At Watling Reclamation, we do a lot of planting up of the planters we sell, preparing for the perfect Spring. This also gives them the job of showcasing the entire range. From stone troughs and Belfast sinks to French and Italian handmade planters and even chimney pots.
The Planters
The new kid on the block so to speak, is the CorTen steel planter, perfect for Spring flowers. Certainly deep enough for use with Tulip bulbs, and available in a range of shapes and sizes, these have become increasingly popular over the last couple of years. From deep and round to narrow and long, our CorTen steel planters have the perfect model for any garden.
Opposite to what happens with mild steel and corrosion, the glorious ‘rust’ finish on CorTen steel protects the metal beneath. Planting these containers means your perfect seasonal blooms have a sturdy home whether it’s Spring or Summer. They’ll also deal with wet winters with ease.
In these, or any planter, loosen the soil and mix in a little grit or compost to prevent waterlogging. Tulips thrive when planted in groups rather than straight rows, creating a natural, full look as they bloom. Reliable varieties for UK gardens include ‘Apeldoorn’, ‘Queen of Night’, and ‘Ballerina’, which offer bold colour and strong stems that stand up well to spring weather.
For a perfectly warm, Mediterranean feel in the garden, especially for the Spring, why not plant in olive jars? These bring more height to floral displays, lifting the blooms to window height for great views from indoors too. These stone jars from France offer up a little colour themselves, contrasting or complimenting the flowers.
