As summer approaches, it is time to think about what you are going to grow and getting quality bulbs, plants and flowers to support your growing plan during these sunny, warmer months. For many people, summer simply would not be summer without dahlias so now is the time to locate dahlias bulbs for sale so you are ready to get planting when the time comes around – because it will come around sooner than you think.

When you are buying dahlia bulbs, check them over thoroughly before planting. Inspect them visually for any blemishes and check that they feel firm to the touch – they should not be soft or going mushy as this indicates that they are mouldy and will not grow. Follow all instructions on the dahlia bulbs carefully to ensure you have the best chance of success with your growing.

Your guide to growing dahlias from bulb: how to get the highest quality bulbs and get the most out of your summer planting

Dahlias are not too difficult to grow but they will need some care and attention if you want to get the most out of them. Dahlia bulbs will need to be planted out before the summer, around May or June time when the ground begins to warm up. They are late summer flowerers, so they will begin to flower from July through to October.

In order to grow dahlias successfully, you will need to provide the right growing conditions for them and will need to care for them in the right way. The bulbs will need to be planted around 60cm apart to allow them to grow, and their full height will be around one metre once they are fully grown.

Dahlias will grow best in conditions where they have plenty of sun but also shelter at the same time. They will need a specific type of soil – fertile, rich and moist, but also free draining. If you already have dahlia bulbs planted, dig up the tubers in autumn so they will not get damaged by the frost during winter. In early April, you can begin to grow them again and you should plan to plant them out from May when the weather is warm enough.

Getting the widest variety of dahlia bulb options

Dahlia bulbs can be bought in garden centres but in general, there will be a wider variety online, giving you more choice of varieties and colours. The beauty of dahlias is in their rich, varied colours, so you can experiment all you like and make your garden a colourful place to buy. Buy all bulbs from a reputable seller who is known for the high quality of their bulbs.

There are various shapes of dahlia you can buy as well, from tight balls to large blooms that are more like lilies in appearance. This makes them great for all planting schemes and they will never look out of place in borders, whether you have a cottage garden aesthetic or you are trying something more unusual and adventurous.

Amaryllis bulbs are a favourite in the gardening world. A bulb that is super easy to grow, as well as one that will continue to re-bloom following years. But what do you need to do to care for your amaryllis bulbs during planting, growing and deadheading?

Planting Amaryllis Bulbs

More often than not, amaryllis bulbs will be planted into a pot. This is the best option for your bulb as it allows you to choose if you want it indoors or outdoors, as well as allowing you to give your bulbs the best growing condition.

When you are planting your bulbs, you want to ensure you are planting them into a good potting soil mix. This soil will give your amaryllis bulbs the right nutrients to promote their growth. When planting, ensure you are planting the bulb pointed end facing upright, this is where your plant will sprout from but remember you need approximately 1/3 of the bulb above the soil. Tightly pack your bulb with soil and you are ready to go.

Caring For Amaryllis Bulbs

Once your bulbs have been planted correctly, it is time to care for them. You will need to be patient, on average it will take amaryllis bulbs 6-8 weeks to bloom, some can take up to 10weeks! But, the care you give them needs to be maintained.

Amaryllis bulbs are no different to any other plant. They require water and sunlight. That being said, caring for your bulbs will be easy. Place them in an area with direct sunlight and water them regularly. This should be maintained until your plant begins to wilt.

You may wish to install wooden stakes to act as a support for your growing bulbs.

Bloom Life of Amaryllis Bulbs

The time we have all been waiting for, 6-8 weeks after planting your amaryllis bulbs they have started blooming.

The life of blooming amaryllis can vary from person to person. Most commonly people leave their amaryllis in the pot they were planted in until they wilt away.

But, as an alternative, amaryllis is an amazing plant to be used as cut flowers. Sometimes you can find that using these bulbs as a cut plant will allow them to last up to 2 weeks longer! So, why not cut some of your bulbs and have a beautiful amaryllis centrepiece.

The End of Amaryllis Bulbs

Like every plant, there will, unfortunately, be an end of your amaryllis bulbs. There will become a time where your amaryllis bulbs wilt away.

When their heads being to drop, it is time to cut them back. Ideally, you want to cut the flower stalk back to within 1 inch of the top of your bulb. You will then need to continue watering your bulbs and feeding them with plant fertiliser. Doing this successfully means you should see your amaryllis bulbs bloom again the following year. Whilst their first life may have ended, you can look forward to them blooming again the next year.

The autumnal time of year is the time of year when your garden may well become home for the hedgehogs and other wildlife, so we must help to provide them with sufficient warmth, safety, and food to see out the cold winter ahead.

You may feel like ripping up all those tired plants and raking the grass of all the fallen leaves, but these areas can provide warmth and shelter to insects and small animals as well as providing an area for hibernation during the winter months.

Butterflies this time of year enter the dormant stage and butterflies such as the peacock butterfly may be found still on the walls of your house. Heating can confuse and wake butterflies, therefore it is a good idea if you find them in your home, to carefully move them to an outbuilding. If they wake too early they will die.

If you wish to sweep your lawn of the fallen leaves, gather them into a pile and leave them in an area of your garden for the hedgehogs and other wildlife to shelter.

Keeping your bird feeder topped up at this time of year is also beneficial to the birds. During the coming months as the temperature drops, the natural berries in hedges die off, so birds will start to emerge to your bird feeder to gain energy and fat for the winter months ahead.

Clearing out any nesting boxes you have and cleaning them with boiling water will help kill parasites. Ensure they are firmly attached and repair any parts they may need repairing.

Toads like to shelter under piles of bricks whereas frogs are more likely found in piles of leaves during colder months.

Ladybirds gather in large numbers on dead plants in sheltered parts of gardens. So what may appears to be a scruffy garden will in fact be the perfect haven for wildlife over the coming winter months.

Autumn is an important time in the gardening calendar. It is a time when there should be a great deal of planning going on, ready for the spring season and the abundance of growth that comes with this season. Planting the correct autumn bulbs can help to brighten things up later on in the year, making the spring a beautiful time. They can be planted in borders or containers depending on the type of bulb, and will make a visual spectacle of a garden, courtyard or balcony. Getting the balance right and making sure there will be colour and interest throughout the year is very important.

Some bulbs are typically associated with the autumn while others may seem a little more unusual. These are some of the autumn bulbs that can be planted to add colour, interest and variety throughout the seasons:

• Tulips. There is so much that can be done with tulips – despite their iconic shape, there are many, many varieties. They can bring a range of colours and heights to the garden in the springtime, so there is plenty of choice.
• Hyacinths. These are one of the most recognisable of spring flowers that will grow after autumn planting. They come in different shades of pink, purple and cream and they can be planted in borders or containers.
• Daffodils. These bulbs should be planted in the autumn so that they are ready for the spring time. Daffodils are synonymous with the change of seasons and are often one of the earliest types of bulb to flower. Their brightness and charming yellow shades rings in a new season with beauty and style.
• Alliums. The tall and distinctive allium is a very different shape and size to many of the other bulbs that will grow from autumn planting. They can be used to add interest and character in a garden and they come in many different shades.
• Anemones. If longevity is important, the anemone is one of the best options around. This is a longer flowering bulb that can be planted in the autumn to grow flowers of many different colours.
• Crocus. This is an iconic flower with a goblet shape, and they come in a variety of radiant colours. They are best planted in a border and they can be naturalised if larger areas of flowers are preferred.
• Fritillaria. It is very important to grow bulbs that will suit the specific conditions that can be provided in any one space. Fritillaria are happy growing in lightly shaded conditions amongst other plants and flowers. They can be grown in pots as well as naturalised.
• Muscari. These might also be known as grape hyacinth and are usually a dark blue colour. They can be grown successfully in borders and are a delicate, attractive type of flower that adds interest.
• Amaryllis. These bulbs will usually be sent out during the later autumn months and they can be cultivated in the home to flower during the winter and over Christmas instead of the spring if preferred.

Cats, an animal that make a great family pet, but can cause issues in not only your garden but everybody’s gardens! With them seeing lovely designed flowerbeds as huge litter trays! So, what are some of the ways we can prevent cats from ruining our flowerbeds?

Firstly consider planting lavender in your flower beds. This is known to deter cats away from gardens due to the smell. And with it being quite bushy, there will not be much room left for them.

Another smell that cats don’t like is coffee. Mix in ground coffee into your soil will help to prevent cats from seeing your flowerbeds as a litter tray. They will no longer be able to distinguish their own smell in your area so should retreat to their own garden.

Finally, orange peels. Again, these have a strong scent that will deter cats away from your garden. Place these under the soil to deter them away. Just be aware that these will need replacing often as the scent does not last.