Snowdrops

[parkgate]

I wish to plant snowdrop bulbs in a strip of well dug bedding at the front if my garden.

I have two questions :-

1) can I cover them with wood chippings once they are planted? I.e. Will they push their way through?

2) to enjoy an impressive display in January - how many bulbs should I plant? - the strip is about 8ft x 1ft - I have initially purchased 100 bulbs!

Thank You.

[ayjay]

I wish to plant snowdrop bulbs in a strip of well dug bedding at the front if my garden.

I have two questions :-

1) can I cover them with wood chippings once they are planted? I.e. Will they push their way through?

2) to enjoy an impressive display in January - how many bulbs should I plant? - the strip is about 8ft x 1ft - I have initially purchased 100 bulbs!

Thank You.

1) Not sure, but don't cover them too thickly and they should be OK. Usual planting depth is about 3" max, if you plan to keep the chippings at a cover of say 2", allow for that when planting.

2) Gardening is never really instant, 100 mature bulbs will give you 100 flowering plants in January/February, but they will increase over time and in a few years you'll have a lot more.

If you plant them close together initially you will get a better show than spreading them over the whole area.Once established you'll see the individual bulbs you planted increasing to become clumps of bulbs, you can dig these clumps up and divide them to spread them out.

[davyp1]

I wish to plant snowdrop bulbs in a strip of well dug bedding at the front if my garden.

I have two questions :-

1) can I cover them with wood chippings once they are planted? I.e. Will they push their way through?

2) to enjoy an impressive display in January - how many bulbs should I plant? - the strip is about 8ft x 1ft - I have initially purchased 100 bulbs!

Thank You.

1) You should be fine with a wood chippings mulch as long as the total depth of soil & mulch is no more than 100mm.

2) As mentioned earlier plant in small groups of 6 or 8. Just chuck them down a handful at a time and plant where they land.

I would add one point of my own.
Going back many years I was always told that snowdrops benefit from being planted in the 'green'.
Many nurseries sell them when they have been lifted shortly after flowering. Same principle applies to plant in separate small groups.

Davyp1

[parkgate]

I think you are right re planting in the green - I planted 200 bulbs but no sign of any growth as yet.

The garden centres were full of dried snowdrop bulbs this year but advice on the internet seems to indicate limited chances of success.

[MatMan]

Following this thread as interested in getting some snowdrops too. I got married in Feb and there were snowdrops all around us so it's kind of a special flower for me

[parkgate]

Still no sign of snowdrops! I thought they should be out by now.

[arco_iris]

Our daffodils are very late this year, usually start to see growth around Xmas time but only just starting to see them, 2/3rds way through January.

[parkgate]

This is interesting- the daffodils, planted at the same time as the snowdrops, are coming through as very strong looking plants - some almost in flower.

[wine~o]

Far too early for snowdrops or daffodils

Hopefully a good sharp frost followed by a milder spell (snowdrops need this) will result in some action.

[ayjay]

Far too early for snowdrops or daffodils

Hopefully a good sharp frost followed by a milder spell (snowdrops need this) will result in some action.

I made my way up the garden yesterday and the Snowdrops were out in flower, it's about the usual time for our Snowdrops - I didn't go as far as the Daffs, but I'll look when it's not raining next and I've got a spare minute.

[davyp1]

Far too early for snowdrops or daffodils

Hopefully a good sharp frost followed by a milder spell (snowdrops need this) will result in some action.

I made my way up the garden yesterday and the Snowdrops were out in flower, it's about the usual time for our Snowdrops - I didn't go as far as the Daffs, but I'll look when it's not raining next and I've got a spare minute.

My snowdrops are out too (East Yorks)
Daffs are showing about 2" of shoots.

[wine~o]

Our snowdrops don't normally appear till the end of january (such a mild and wet winter down here I fear the bulbs may have rotted.

As for the daffs they normally show their heads in march or early april depending on weather.