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Creating a beautiful garden in a small space is possible with the right approach. Start by exploring various bulb lists and select flowers that you love for next spring. These flowers can be planted in pots, larger containers, window boxes, old buckets, or unwanted dustbins. You can even place them on concrete or decking if that’s the only available ground. If you need to move house next summer, you can dig up and replant the bulbs easily. Jacques Amand’s website is a great resource to start your search for the perfect bulbs.
At the recent FT Weekend Festival, many guests expressed regret for not having a “proper” garden. But even a small space can be transformed into a beautiful oasis. Don’t let the trendy ideas fool you. While tulips may not come back year after year, they are undeniably stunning. Crocuses may not be native to Britain, but they attract early pollinators with their vibrant colors. If you decide not to mow your lawn, don’t expect narcissi to magically sprout. Instead, plant them yourself and cut the grass after they bloom. Embrace the transient nature of beauty and learn to appreciate it.
To create a visually striking display, try planting bulbs at different depths in the same container. This technique allows for multi-layered beauty in a confined space. Plant three or four layers of bulbs, with the taller tulips at the bottom, narcissi or hyacinths in the middle, and crocuses on top. Add a few inches of compost between each layer. This method has worked well for me in the past, producing a stunning display from late February onwards. My top layer consisted of white-flowered Crocus biflorus, with Iris reticulata Blue Planet poking through a week later. Below them were mixed Jonquil narcissi, followed by the vibrant Darwin tulip Olympic Flame.
Maintaining the look of your bulbs as they bloom can be a challenge. Dead flowers and aging leaves can make the garden look messy. But with some care, you can keep them looking their best. Deadhead the flowers and thin out the leaves when necessary. Provide them with proper nutrients using diluted Phostrogen in two fortnightly doses. Keep in mind that reticulate irises often split into smaller corms after blooming, so they are best treated as one-year wonders. If you take these steps, your spring bulbs will thrive.
In an even smaller space, like a window box, you can still create a beautiful display with two layers of bulbs. Plant crocuses on top and tulips underneath, making sure they stay under 18 inches in height. Triumph tulips, such as Flaming Agrass, are excellent choices for this position. They come in various colors and are sturdy enough to withstand the elements. Couleur Cardinal and Jan van Nes are also great options for window boxes.
As spring temperatures rise, Triumph tulips are blooming earlier in April. I like to plant crocuses above them, choosing colors that I find appealing. Despite the wet weather, the mixture of white Miss Vain and lavender Vernus Vanguard was still a delight. These crocuses can be lifted and replanted each year, providing ongoing beauty.
In a small garden, consider layering your spring bulbs to maximize space. And don’t forget to reserve a few pots for special beauties like erythroniums. These woodland flowers thrive in pots with ericaceous compost and improve each year when kept in a shaded area during summer. The yellow Pagoda and white revolutum White Beauty are particularly accommodating, as long as they don’t dry out. A single bulb in a four-inch pot can become the highlight of your balcony.
Dutch irises have also seen significant improvements in recent years. Compact bulbs are now available, making them suitable for wide pots. Their flowers are exquisite, blooming on stiff stems in late May. By planting them in soil mixed with horticultural grit, you can ensure their longevity. Unlike in ordinary soil, Dutch irises will continue to grow and multiply when planted in a mixture of two-thirds grit and one-third soil. Varieties like White Excelsior, King Mauve, and Symphony offer the perfect complement to fading tulips.
When it comes to narcissi, the options are endless. Shorter varieties like white-flowered Thalia and yellow Tête-à-Tête are ideal for window boxes. WP Milner, a pale yellow narcissus, is a close rival to Tête-à-Tête. These varieties will brighten up your window ledge or balcony. Smaller-flowered Jonquil varieties are best suited for smaller pots at ground level. Hawera, from Division Five of the narcissus lists, is a delicate marvel with thin stems and multiple yellow flowers.
Consider matching larger layered pots with smaller pots containing a single variety of bulb. Tulips, in particular, can be planted in November so you have time to finalize your selection. Lastly, Star of Bethlehem, Ornithogalum White Beauty, is a new discovery of mine. It produces pure white flowers on upright stems in late April and doesn’t invade the garden like other members of its family. This bulb is a reliable choice that adds interest to any space.
For more gardening inspiration, be sure to follow @FTProperty on X or @ft_houseandhome on Instagram.
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