What is a bulb lasagne?

The Director of Polhill Garden Centre, Josh Novell, has shared expert comments on what a garden lasagne is and how to carry out this process in your garden.

Bulb lasagne planting is a technique where you layer different bulbs in containers or beds to have blooms throughout spring. It extends the flowering season, so you can enjoy continuous blossoms throughout the season!

8 steps to planting a bulb lasagne

Here are the steps to plant a bulb lasagne in a container:

1. Choose a large pot that is at least 30cm deep and wide and has good drainage holes.
   
2. To begin, introduce a layer of premium potting mix, approximately 10-15cm in depth, to the pot’s bottom. Optionally, you can improve drainage by situating a layer of gravel at the foundation.
   
3. Afterward, place the first layer of bulbs onto the soil. When planting bulbs in containers, it’s possible to position them in closer proximity than the suggested spacing, resulting in more intense blooms. Position the largest and latest-blooming bulbs at the base, such as daffodils, tulips, or alliums and ensure that the pointed tip of each bulb is upward.
4. Cover the bulbs with around an inch of soil and that completes your first layer of lasagne.
   
5. After this, add the second layer of bulbs to the soil’s surface. Opt for smaller and earlier blooming bulbs for this layer, like hyacinths, crocus, or iris. You can either stagger them in between the gaps of the first layer or place them directly on top.
6. Cover the second layer of bulbs with another inch of soil. You can add a third layer of bulbs if you like, following the same principle as before.
   
7. Fill the pot with soil up to 2cm below the rim. Water well and place the pot in a sunny spot.
   
8. You can also plant some winter bedding plants on top of the soil, such as pansies, violas, or primroses, to give your display a head start before the bulbs flower.

Why plant a bulb lasagne?

1. You can enjoy an extended flowering season!: You can enjoy a longer period of beautiful blooms throughout the spring season. This adds variety to your garden.

2. Easy to maintain: The soil will remain healthy as it goes through lasagne stages, making it easy to water and fertilise.

3. Experimenting and trying out different combinations: If you wanted to get really creative, you could design colour schemes ahead of time and enjoy each colour as they make an appearance throughout the year.

4. Maximised garden space: You can plant more bulbs in one pot which will create a bigger impact in your garden. You can also move the pots around if you feel like you need to change your display to brighten up different areas of your garden.

5. Efficiently utilise containers: It allows easy relocation and rearrangement of the pots, as they are not fixed in the ground, giving more flexibility and creativity in the garden design.

Josh says, “Once established, the lasagne structure encourages bulbs to naturalise and multiply, enhancing the garden’s beauty year after year. Planting a bulb lasagne is a creative, time-saving, and space-efficient approach to gardening that reaps long-lasting rewards for both the garden’s style and the gardener’s enjoyment. Additionally, bulb lasagnes promote an efficient use of space, making it ideal for smaller garden spaces.”

———————————————————————–