Growing bulbs close together

[veg4681]

Does anybody bothers spacing out bulbs per growing instructions. I told myself long time ago not to do this (!!!) as I recalled the plants always looked terrible not being tightly close together as you see in pictures. I forgot this rule and now I hate the look of these untidy gladioli, iris and freesia, sticking out like isolated canes with no real impact on the beauty of the plants/flower.

[Palustris]

We tend to plant bulbs in odd numbered groups. So the ones in the set are close together, but the groups may be seperate.

[Alice]

Hello Veg 4681, no I don't space them out. In fact, I tend to plant at 2 different depths to get twice as many into the space and a really good display. Hope this makes sense.
ie dig a hole and plant as many bulbs as possible
add a little dirt / compost
lay in another layer of bulbs, root end between noses.
Fill hole / pot.
Result is great display.

[veg4681]

Alice,

Thanks for the tips and for confirming what I once knew but completely forgot the golden rule.

[moggssue]

I do the same as Alice, seems to work fine. Mind you, I do feed once a fortnight during the summer so I guess that helps as well - I hope so, or I'm wasting my time and money!!

[Alexx]

I also planted my gladioli in groups of 5 this year and they look so much better than as per instructions, like i did last year.

By the way, if I may ask here - do I dig he bulbs up for winter, like gladioli and lilies, or leave them in?

[Alice]

Hello Alexx, Your lillies should be fine just left in the ground. Mine have been in the same place for years. With Gladioli, well it all depends. Strictly you should lift them and dry them off but I have some in a sunny spot on free draining ground and they've been there for years doing fine. On wet ground the bulbs would just rot over the winter. So you have to judge that yourself.

[moggssue]

I've had gladioli and lily bulbs in the same spot in the front garden for about four years now, never lifted them or protected them. I leave them alone, just give a sprinkling of growmore in spring along with everything else and the odd feed during summer goes onto the whole bed as well and they've always done me proud. I agree with Alice though, the 'expert' advice is to lift and store over winter - if your ground is likely to be very wet and/or cold you might be as well lifting them just in case.

[Alexx]

Thanks! i better dig them up then, not just now of course

[Grandpadragon]

Alice's method works really well for pots, you can sometimes get three layers in, but never thought about doing it outside:

[heebiejeebie]

I usually plant bulbs in threes or fives to make clumps.
I never thought of doing layers like that! Thanks!

[mapcr77]

Talking about bulbs, I'd like to plant together some that flower in succession, (you know, some that flower in feb-march with some that do in april-may, and so on) is that possible? or would they compete with one another and never flower at all?

Thanks!