How do I arrange my plants and bulbs?Updated 8 months ago

In a mixed container, plant taller varieties in the centre and shorter varieties around the outside. For pots which are positioned against a wall, plant the tallest variety at the back of the container closest to the wall and small varieties at the front. 

In borders, plant the tallest varieties in groups or drifts at the back of the border, with shorter varieties towards in a gradient with the shortest at the front of the border. Flowers make a bigger impact when planted in groups, rather than individually. It's a good idea to repeat groups of the same plant around the garden, repeating groups helps to balance the planting scheme.

When planting in groups or individually, bulbs and plants should be planted at their required spacing to allow space for their foliage to grow without overcrowding. The space you allow between individual bulbs or plants should be at least as wide as the spread of the plant. Tulips, for instance, have a spread of around 10-15cm, so they should be planted at least 10-15cm apart from each other. Dahlias typically have a spread of around 30-45cm in their first year, so allow around 25cm of space around the tuber.