Ten Spring Flowering Bulbs to tempt you with

Have you been to your local garden centre recently?

If you have you'll have noticed that the seasons are changing and that in the small gap between selling summer bedding plants and those dreaded Christmas decorations, all the garden centres are busily stocking their shelves with autumn plants.

Whilst ripping out your geraniums in favour of winter flowering pansies and cyclamen may be a little bit early still, now is an excellent time to think forward to Spring! I know that's a slight contradiction but hear me out, okay?

When I worked in garden centres, I always got really frustrated during Spring. People would do nothing in their gardens for the winter months (and quite rightly to - it's blimin' cold out there) and then once the excitement -or trauma- of Christmas is over, they'd traipse in to their local garden centre and ask for daffodils and tulips. And what did I say to them?

"YOU'RE TOO LATE!!!"

The bulbs that will grow into lovely Spring flowers are on sale NOW!

If you're thinking that in the depths of Winter, when not much else is growing you'd like a bit of colour to cheer you up then consider buying yourselves some bulbs now. Dig yourself a hole (depth dependant on bulb type) chuck in your bulbs, re-cover and forget about them. Then in February, March or April you'll be pleasantly surprised by a lovely display of cheerful flowers. What could be better?

There are literally hundreds of bulbs to choose from but here are a few to get you tempted:

Narcissus 'Cheerfulness'

An attractive, early flowering daffodil with white outer petals that surround clusters of smaller petals in the centre. The blooms are long lasting and have a strong fragrance. They are also good for cutting. For a bold display, plant the bulbs in large groups in well drained, fertile soil.

Planting Depth: One and a half times the bulb depth below the soil.

Plant Height & Width: 40cm (16in) x 15cm (6in)

Tulipa 'Red Riding Hood'

The bright red flowers of this striking tulip have black marks at the base of the petals, and its lance-shaped leaves are strongly marked with purple stripes. It is one of the earlier flowering tulips of the species. Plant bulbs in a sunny situation in well-drained, fertile soil, or a rock garden where they can be left for years. Alternatively, plant them in containers and replant the bulbs in the garden after flowering. For a bold display, plant with a yellow tulip, such as 'Yokahama'

Plant Height x Spread: 20cm (8in) x 15cm (6in)

Hyacinthus orientalis 'Blue Jacket'

This is one of the best blue flowering Hyacinths, with wonderfully fragrant, navy blue blooms. It can become quite an overpowering fragrance if planted in too plentiful a group. The petals have a waxy texture and purple veins. Plant it in deep, well-drained, fertile soil in sun or partial shade. Hyacinths are perfect for creating early colourful spring displays and are useful in container or window box displays. Grow them either outside, or forced in bowls of bulb fibre indoors. Note: if you intend to have your hyacinths flowering in time for Christmas, you will need to buy 'prepared' bulbs and restrict their levels of light each day.

Plant Height x Spread: 30cm (12in) x 8cm (3in)

Iris 'Katharine Hodgkin'

This vigorous dwarf iris flowers from late winter. It's upper petals are covered with fine, deep blue veins, while the broad lower petals have a yellow centre and are heavily marked with blue lines and speckles. Plant bulbs on a sunny bank or other well drained situation, making sure the bulbs are kept on the dry side during the summer. It enjoys neutral or slightly alkaline soil.

Plant Height x Spread: 12cm (5in) x 7cm (3in)

Scilla siberica 'Spring Beauty'

This bulbous perennial has small spikes of bell shaped, violet tinted, deep blue flowers arranged on one side of the stem. It is ideal for rock gardens or mixed herbaceous borders beneath deciduous shrubs or trees, where it will give you an early spring display of colour. It prefers sandy, well drained, fertile soil in slight shade or full sun. If clumps become too large, divide after flowering during the summer.

Plant Height x Spread: 20cm (8in) x 5cm (2in)

Crocus chrysanthus 'E A Bowles'

This dainty crocus has deep lemon-yellow, goblet shaped flowers, with purple feathering on the outer petals. The leaves are dark green with a white stripe. Plant in groups in well drained soil at the front of a sunny border for an early splash of colour, or grow in raised beds and containers.

Plant Height x Spread: 7cm (3in) x 5cm (2in)

Narcissus 'February Gold'

One of the most common and widely grown daffodil, 'February Gold' is extremely vigorous and in early spring produces nodding, large golden-yellow flowers with slightly swept back petals. The flowers are set off by mid green, strap-like leaves. It is suitable for planting in borders or for naturalising in grass. Plant to one and a half times their depth in sunny sites, ensuring it is well drained and reasonably fertile soil.

Plant Height x Spread:30cm (12in) x 8cm (3in)

Convallaria majalis

Lily-of-the-valley is a delightful late spring-flowering plant with arching stems of white, sweetly scented, bell-shaped flowers that appear between the dark green leaves. It makes an ideal ground cover plant for shady, damp situations and spreads very quickly by means of creeping roots. 'Albostriata' has gold-striped leaves, and 'Fortin's Giant' is slightly taller, growing to 30cm (12in). Although you can buy as bulbs, you will have a greater success rate if you buy Convallaria 'in the green' (already growing with bare roots).

Plant Height x Spread: 23cm (9in) x 30cm (12in)

Erythronium dens-canis

The Dog's-tooth violet has distinctive purple, pink or white pendant flowers with reflexed petals.The decorative oval-shaped, green leaves have pinkish-brown mottling on the upper surface. Dog's tooth violets can be planted in woodland or grass, and grow best in well-drained, fertile soil in partial shade. To propagate, lift and divide the clumps of bulbs after flowering and replant immediately in fertile soil.

Plant Height x Spread: 15cm (6in) x 10cm (4in)

Fritillaria meleagris

In late spring, the snake's head fritillary produces pendant, bell-shaped, purple or white flowers, with a distinctive checkerboard pattern on the petals. It grows well when naturalised in grass, and will often self seed. Take care when mowing, as young seedlings look very much like grasses. it should be planted in a moist, well-drained soil, and prefers slightly alkaline conditions. If the bulbs become too congested, mark the position and they can be lifted in the autumn and replanted elsewhere.

Plant Height x Spread: 30cm (12in) x 8cm (3in)

Whetted your appetite? Why not take a trip to your garden centre and give your self something to look forward to next year? Not only will you have a fabulous garden display in spring but the garden centre staff won't have to tell you you're too late when you ask them for daffodil bulbs in February!

Getting the Balance in your Garden Right - more garden design principles

Okay...so we now have perfect unity and harmony in our well proportioned and simple design!

The other principle that we need to pay attention to is

Balance

A Balanced design will create a garden that is comfortable and visually pleasing. It will unite all of the features and elements within the space and create harmony. You see how all the different principles relate to one another?

To get the balance right, you need to think of how you'd feel in that space - you wouldn't feel very comfortable in a room that had all it's furniture pushed to one side - would you?

The easiest method for achieving balance in your garden would be to design a formal, symmetrical and evenly spread garden. Symmetrical gardens are naturally balanced and so you would not need to concern yourself too much with this particular principle. If you want an informal garden however, this will require a bit more consideration on your part to ensure that you get the balance right.

When dividing up your site (refer back to your functional layout plan here) you should make sure that each area relates to each other area. They do not need to be the exact size and shape - that would be boring- but they need to form some kind of relationship, not just two dimensionally but also three dimensionally. Consider which areas will become your masses (the solid aspects of your design; such as planting, buildings, etc) and which areas will be your voids ( the open areas of your design; such as lawns, patios, pathways, etc).

Use the furniture in the room as an example- all of the masses (furniture) are squished to one side of the room. The masses and voids in this space are not very balanced at all!

Now look at what each area is responsible for. You will have some areas that are to be for sitting and relaxing whilst other areas are for playing or walking. Try to balance out the different uses. The aim is to prevent the garden from becoming too static or active in any one particular section of the garden. If you are including a veg patch don't forget to add a seat to this area. That way you can balance work with sitting and enjoying the fruits of your labour.

Most gardens benefit from having secluded areas which are not immediately visible when entering the garden for the first time. You will need to consider the balance between these secluded areas and the open spaces. The function of each of these areas will dictate that balance to a certain degree - helping you to reach a decision.

Look at the balance you require between light and dark spaces. Too many shady areas will create a gloomy garden, whilst a bright sunny garden will be harsh, and tiresome. A totally sunny garden will also be harder to plant as they will need to be able to tolerate dry, hot conditions all of the time.

Sometimes you won't be able to control the amount of light that your garden receives. If your neighbour has a huge tree that casts a massive shadow over your garden, you'll just have to work with it, I'm afraid. Using light coloured paving materials and flowers can help to reflect any light that does reach that area and make it appear brighter. If, on the other hand,, your garden has no natural shade you will need to address this and add something that will add shade. Whether that would be a tree or a purpose built structure depends on what would fit with your design.

You will need to balance your choice of colours too. Introducing too many colours will make your design feel chaotic, whereas, not enough colour could make the design feel dull and uninteresting.

Take a look at this picture. How does it

make you feel? Is it too much colour or a well balanced design? (This was a design (not mine!) exhibited at Gardener's World Live show and people's views were mixed on the day )

Consider carefully where structures might add to enhance your design, and bring balance to it. Features or structures can help balance a three dimensional element in your garden and ensure that there is something of interest at all levels. When choosing which structures or features you want to use, make sure that they are the correct size and weight for your design - not too flimsy or overpoweringly large.

Remember - everyone's

views and ideas are different.

Just because you are convinced that your design is balanced, someone else may disagree altogether. Don't worry about it! So long as you feel that you have kept to the principles of garden design then you'll be happy with the finished design - and, after all - it is YOUR garden!