Best Practices for Landscape Planting

Layered Landscapes: Best Practices for Planting Fall Bulbs, Spring Bulbs & Perennials

Thoughtful landscape planting brings seasonal rhythm to the garden, combining early color from bulbs with structure and longevity from perennials. By layering fall-planted spring bulbs, spring-planted summer bulbs, and robust perennials, you can create a four-season landscape that evolves, surprises, and delights—year after year.

Fall-Planted Bulbs (Spring Blooming)

These are the backbone of early-season color. Planted in autumn, they overwinter underground and burst into bloom as winter fades.

Key Categories:

• Tulips – Available in Single Early, Triumph, Darwin Hybrid, and Single Late forms, tulips offer height, formality, and dazzling color. Ideal for massed blocks or layered with groundcovers and perennials that emerge later (e.g., Geranium, Brunnera).
• Daffodils (Narcissus) – Virtually deer-proof and one of the best for naturalizing. From trumpet types to miniature Tête-à-Tête, they’re workhorses in public and private landscapes.
• Alliums – Tall, architectural, and often rodent-resistant. From A. giganteum to A. ‘Purple Sensation’, they bloom in late spring when early tulips are fading.
• Hyacinths & Muscari – Fragrant and compact; best in borders, containers, or drifted in foreground plantings.
• Botanical bulbs – Crocus, Chionodoxa, Galanthus, and Scilla naturalize well in lawns and woodland edges.

Design Tips:

• Plant in swaths of 25–50 bulbs for bold impact.
• Combine early-, mid-, and late-season bulbs for extended bloom.
• Interplant with perennials that emerge later to cover bulb foliage.

Spring-Planted Bulbs (Summer Blooming)

These tender bulbs go in after frost and shine when spring flowers start to fade.

Key Categories:

• Lilies – Excellent vertical accents; Asiatic varieties bloom first, followed by fragrant Oriental hybrids.
• Dahlias – Explosive color from midsummer to frost. Ideal for containers or cutting borders; stake early for support.
• Calla Lilies & Gladiolus – Dramatic additions to formal beds or event gardens.
• Tuberous Begonias & Caladiums – For shade or dappled sites with high visual appeal.

Best Practices:

• Plant in rich, well-drained soil with consistent moisture.
• Mulch to conserve water and suppress weeds.
• Mix heights for dimension—e.g., tall Gladiolus behind mounding Begonias.

Perennials: The Lasting Layer

Perennials provide structure, foliage interest, and repeat performance year after year. Integrate them with bulbs for a seamless seasonal transition.

Strategic Pairings:

Site Prep & Planting Strategies

• Soil: Amend beds with compost for drainage and nutrient retention.
• Depth: Plant bulbs at 2–3× their height; perennials at crown level.
• Spacing: Allow bulbs to multiply (especially naturalizing types) and perennials to reach full size.
• Maintenance: Leave bulb foliage until fully yellow; deadhead spent blooms to direct energy back to bulbs or roots.