How to Plant a Bulb Lasagna
For a long-lasting spring planter with extra ‘wow’ in a small space, try making a bulb lasagna! It’s a fast and easy autumn project that’s perfect for your front entrance, small gardens, patios, or balcony gardening. You’ll look forward to enjoying a non-stop parade of spring blooms once the long days of winter are over!
What is a Bulb Lasagna?
It’s probably what you pictured in your head! Bulb lasagna is just a cute name for a planted container with layers of different bulbs. It involves planting alternating layers of bulbs and soil in pots, just like making a delicious lasagna – although this one will be a feast for the eyes and not tummies! The latest flowering bulbs are planted at the bottom of the pot, with layers of earlier flowering bulbs above them. The result is a pot filled with wave after wave of spring flowers, for colour throughout the early spring season!
How to Create a Bulb Lasagna:
Step One: Choose Your Container
Choose a pot with excellent drainage. Seriously… lots of drainage because bulbs won’t survive in soggy soil! Use a container at least 12” deep to allow multiple layers of bulbs.
Step Two: Pick Your Bulbs!
Choose bulbs with staggered bloom times, so you get continuous blooms over a longer time period. Our suggestions:
- Late Spring Bulbs (bottom layer) – Allium, Ranunculus, Bluebells
- Mid Spring Bulbs (mid layers) – Tulip, Daffodils, Hyacinth
- Early Spring Bulbs (top layer) – Crocus, Muscari, Iris, Snowdrop
Step Three: Pick up Some Potting Soil!
We recommend using a well-draining potting mix such as our Heeman’s Potting Mix to avoid waterlogging the bulbs. You should avoid using top soil or garden soil – it’s too dense and heavy for containers!
Step Four: Time to Plant!
Start with a good layer of potting mix on the bottom that is at least a 3” inches deep. Plant your latest bloomers first at the bottom of your pot and the earliest on the top layer. Ensure you cover each layer with a couple inches of potting mix. Give the planter a good water once all your bulbs are tucked in.
Step Five: Protect Against Critters!
Sprinkle your planter with Actisol Hen Manure Pellets to deter squirrels and other critters from digging. For extra defense, lay chicken wire over your planter for the winter. Remember to remove the wire before the bulbs start to grow and emerge in spring.
Pro tip: Consider planting deer and critter resistant bulbs such as Allium, Daffodil, Narcissus and Muscari if you often deal with wildlife digging up your bulbs. Check out our Garden Guide ‘Selecting Deer Resistant Plants‘ for more tips and tricks on protecting your garden from pests.
Step Six: Prepare for Winter!
Tuck your planter in against a house or somewhere they’re a bit protected from the wind and elements. It’s key to avoid placing them somewhere they’ll get heavily rained on or drenched from eaves or roofline downpours. You can also store your planter in an unheated garage or shed so long as it stays consistently chilled and doesn’t get warm. Most bulbs will need to feel a cold cycle over the winter in order to produce flowers, so a heated space won’t work for storing.
Because most of these bulbs can bloom for multiple years when happy, you can rotate these planters out once they’re done blooming and then store the planters somewhere protected each winter.
Another option is to plant your summer annuals right on top once the spring bulbs are finished blooming. If this is something you’re looking to layer in, just make sure you remember how deep you planted your first layer of bulbs so you don’t keep digging them up!
Creating a bulb lasagna is a simple and rewarding DIY that will give you a stunning display of blooms to welcome spring! Check out our Garden Guide ‘Planning and Planting Your Bulb Garden’, for more tips and tricks around beautiful spring blooming flowers.
