🌺 Plant Summer Flowering Bulbs: Lilies, Gladioli & Dahlias for a Stunning Summer Display
As spring gets into full swing, it’s time to look ahead to the spectacular colour and drama of summer. One of the easiest ways to fill your garden with lush, showy blooms is by planting summer-flowering bulbs and tubers — and now is the perfect time to get them in the ground.
From elegant lilies to vibrant dahlias and towering gladioli, these bulbs offer months of colour with surprisingly little effort.
🌿 Why Plant Summer Bulbs?
Summer-flowering bulbs are a brilliant addition to any garden. Here’s why:
- Big impact with little effort
- Ideal for pots, borders, and cutting gardens
- A huge range of colours, shapes, and heights
- Many bloom from July to the first frosts
They’re also a great way to add vertical interest and bursts of colour just as spring flowers are fading.
🌸 What to Plant
Some of the best summer-flowering bulbs and tubers include:
| Plant | Height | Bloom Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dahlias | 45–150cm | July–October | Dig up tubers in autumn if not hardy |
| Lilies | 60–120cm | June–August | Great in borders and large containers |
| Gladioli | 60–120cm | July–September | Excellent cut flowers; plant in succession |
| Crocosmia | 60–90cm | July–September | Fiery colours, clump-forming |
| Eucomis | 30–60cm | August–September | Unique pineapple-shaped flowers |
| Tigridia | 30–45cm | July–August | Exotic-looking and short-lived blooms |
🕐 When to Plant
Plant summer bulbs from March through May, once the soil begins to warm up. If you’re in a colder area, wait until the risk of frost has passed or start them off in pots under cover.
🌱 How to Plant Summer Bulbs
- Choose a Sunny Spot
Most summer bulbs love full sun and well-drained soil. Raised beds or pots with gritty compost work well. - Prepare the Soil
Fork in organic matter or compost to enrich the ground. For heavy soils, add grit to improve drainage. - Plant at the Right Depth
- Dahlias: 10–15cm deep; plant tubers with the eye facing up.
- Lilies: 15cm deep; space 15–20cm apart.
- Gladioli: 10–15cm deep and 10cm apart.
- Water In Well
After planting, give them a good soak to settle the soil around the bulbs. - Support Tall Varieties
Add canes or plant supports early for gladioli and tall dahlias — it’s much easier than trying later.
🪴 Growing in Pots?
Absolutely — summer bulbs are ideal for containers:
- Use multi-purpose compost with added grit for drainage
- Choose deep pots for taller types
- Feed regularly with high-potash feed once growth starts
- Keep well-watered in hot weather
🛑 Aftercare & Lifting
- Deadhead regularly to encourage more blooms
- Feed and water through the growing season
- In autumn, lift tender tubers like dahlias and store them in a frost-free place
- Hardy bulbs like lilies and crocosmia can stay in the ground year-round
✨ Final Thoughts
Planting summer bulbs is one of the most satisfying jobs of the season — a small effort now brings bold, beautiful returns for months to come. Whether you’re after tropical-style borders, romantic cottage charm, or a bold modern mix, there’s a bulb (or tuber) that will fit right in.
Dig a little, dream big — and get planting!
