Layered planting

[WPG]

Having watched Monty Don planting bulbs in layers last year, I thought I'd give it a go.

In early November I planted tulip bulbs about half way down a big pot, added a layer of compost and then layers of narcissi, then iris, and finally winter pansies on top. The flowers appear in the reverse order, so over christmas I had blue and yellow pansies, the irises flowered in mid February, the narcissi in mid March, and the tulips have been flowering since mid April.

So the experiment worked, and there's been colour in the pot for almost 6 months. On the downside it is a bit straggly looking, the pansies are past their best and the narcissi stems are unsightly. In hindsight, if I do this again I think I'd probably plant greater numbers of iris and tulips, and also sacrifice the narcissi once they'd flowered by cutting their stems back.

But overall I'm pleased that it worked, here's some pics

[Alison]

I did a couple of these too and was really impressed. They're about finished now but have looked good by the front door since the autumn. Am definitely doing them later this year. Personally I didn't have a problem with any straggleness but I did grow a very miniature variety.

[Zelenina]

I don't think it looks straggly at all, WPG. Just lovely and natural and informal

[mothhawk]

I did one with yellow tulips (flowering now), dutch iris, which produced no flowers at all , chiondoxa, and yellow and purple crocus. Very pleased with it.

[WendyC]

I planted a pot up for my sister in law a few Christmases ago. She had been poorly and unable to garden for a while. I think it has done it's third season now, and has only been watered. It has even moved house! It's amazing how much you can get out of a tiny space.

[Bren In Pots]

They do look pretty

[veggiechicken]

I planted 3 "layered" pots up end of last year and they haven't stopped flowering for months.
Can't actually remember what went in the layers but here they are:-





Definitely worth doing!

[Gillykat]

I went mad last year when Morr**ons had bulbs on cheap and stuffed as many as I could into my planters and I've been really pleased with the result Tulips are just starting to flower now and the Grape Hyacinths are an absolute magnet for bees and other beasties.

If I remember correctly I put tulips in the bottom, then normal-sized daffodils, then a mix of dwarf daffs, crocus and grape hyacinth.

[Gillykat]

Oh dear.....just realised THAT photo shows the pot with only tulips in it Ditto the pot next to it with Grape Hyacinth and the one with slightly-nibbled Crocus

I know I have one giant pot ~ at least ~ with layered flowers in....

[veggiechicken]

I thought your version of Layered planting was putting the pots on top of each other