It's Autumn! Time to prepare & plant Spring flowering Bulbs
- Tammy Johnson
- Mar 29
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 20
Written and edited by Tammy 29th March 2025
Autumn is undoubtedly one of the nicest times of the year to enjoy our gardens. Leaves on deciduous trees transition through stunning shades of red, orange, yellow, and brown. Gardens everywhere take on an almost serene feel, that feeling of winding down...a deep sigh.
But it's not time to wind down.... with the hot days finally becoming fewer it's the perfect time to get back out in the garden and start prepping for and planting those spring flowering bulbs.
Why's it important to plant them now?
Good question.
The shortening day lengths sees our soils begin to cool, so planting now gives spring bulbs the optimal chill time they need to produce those stunning blooms. Most bulbs need somewhere between 12-16 weeks to chill, if you're in a cool climate like we are here in the lower SE of South Australia, there's no need to chill the likes of tulips in the fridge, our winter ground temperatures are adequate. ("Chilling" or chill time is the equivalent of, or alternative terminology for dormancy). They need a period of dormancy before awakening in Spring.
How do I plant them?
Another good question.
The golden rule, to achieve that nice full look, is to plant your bulbs 'cheek to cheek' (just touching one another), and at a depth of two to three times the width of the bulb. A nice, large round daffodil is probably going to be between 3 to 4 inches deep down, whereas a little freesia may be barely 1 inch down.
Feeding them
If sowing them into your garden beds, improve your soil first by incorporating some well-aged animal manure or compost, and some blood and bone. Once they're sown, top dress with a handful of organic all-purpose balanced fertiliser, my favourite is Neutrog Rapid Raiser.
Providing them with nutrition at the time of sowing means it's there in the ground ready for them to utilise as soon as they awaken from dormancy.
Hydration
Settle them in with a good drink of water and a dash of Seasol Health treatment for good measure. Continue to water them at regular intervals to maintain just enough moisture, but without leaving them waterlogged.
Mulch
Make sure you apply a layer of mulch once they're settled in. The mulch does multiple things. It helps to maintain the level of moisture in the ground, and more importantly it acts as an insulation blanket, preventing them from being affected by frosts and extreme dips in temperature.
Autumn flowering Belladonnas
We can’t not mention this Autumn flowering beauty, Amaryllis Belladonna, also known as Easter Lilies or Naked Ladies.
It’s not Easter until you spot these darlings showing their pretty faces randomly along the road sides.
From late Summer into Autumn, classic, large lily style pink to white flowers sit high atop of tall stems well before the leaves appear.
Long, slender glossy green leaves emerge well after the flowers finish.
Native to South Africa, but naturalised throughout most parts of Australia, they’re extremely hardy, and drought tolerative.
Like most bulbs they multiply. There’s no need to lift or disturb them, in time, they go on to form large clumps that can later be divided.
Their preference is for well drained, lighter soils (hence they’re seen to be thriving in areas of sandy soils throughout our region, south east of SA), hot dry summers and wet winters.
Spring flowering bulbs
The variety of bulbs to choose from is endless! Snowflakes, Daffodils, Freesias, Irises, Tulips, Ranunculi, Hyacinth, Anemones and more, you really can have some fun.
A little Inspiration 🌷
Dressing up an otherwise empty dull corner of a courtyard or patio with a lovely large pot planted up with an assortment of bulbs and other complimentary cascading perennials can really brighten things up, bringing it to life.
There are a few advantages to planting bulbs in pots and containers.
They'll be mobile! You can move them around to suit your mood.
You’ll know exactly where your babies are. There's no chance you'll accidentally chop them up or lose them digging around in the garden throughout the rest of the year.
Finally, Bulbs need good quality, moist but free draining soil. Planting them in containers in a premium potting medium will ensure they get this.
You've heard the expression ‘less is more’? Keep it simple. Try mass displays of only one or two contrasting colours to create a real wow factor.
There's also nothing wrong with scattering them randomly or in clumps throughout your garden beds, making for a lovely surprise when they reappear the following season.
Kindy's and Primary schools often run bulb fundraisers early in the new year. It's a great opportunity to stock up on some bulbs while supporting the schools at the same time. If the kids are past that age, you'll find most of your major leading outlets start stocking them in early Autumn, which for us here is now.
There never really is a quiet time of the year in the gardens as there's always something to prepare, prune, plant, lift, divide or just shuffle around.
Maybe I've inspired you even just a little, if you've got some spare empty pots, or space in the garden, grab yourself some bulbs and get planting.
Happy Gardening!😘🌹🌸
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