As British gardens begin their winter slumber, a surprising gardening opportunity emerges for those struggling with shaded outdoor spaces. While many plants demand full sun, one expert has revealed a simple November planting trick that promises gorgeous floral displays next summer, even in the dimmest corners.
The Shade-Loving Bulb Solution
Lee Bestall, known as 'the Northern Designer' on TikTok, has shared a timely gardening tip that could transform shady gardens across the UK. In a recent video demonstration, he showed viewers how to plant Allium siculum bulbs, commonly called Honey Lily, during November to achieve beautiful blooms the following summer.
'Today, I'm planting into this partially shaded border,' Bestall explained in his video, highlighting that this particular bulb thrives where many others struggle. The Honey Lily produces elegant, drooping bells in soft tones of cream, plum, and green, creating a sophisticated display from June onwards.
Planting Guide and Benefits
For successful growth, Bestall recommends planting the bulbs about 10 centimetres deep into the soil, spaced approximately 15 centimetres apart. He suggests using a dibber for easy planting and emphasizes one crucial pre-planting check: 'Give them a quick squeeze to ensure they're still firm, and check there's no mould growing on them.'
The gardening expert notes an additional advantage beyond beautiful flowers. 'The great thing with these is that they will flower longer in the semi-shade, which not many plants and bulbs do at that time of the year,' Bestall explained. Furthermore, their distant relation to the onion family means they emit a fragrance that naturally deters squirrels and rabbits from your garden.
Forget Them Until Summer
The beauty of this gardening method lies in its simplicity. 'Pop a few into your planters or borders now with your trusty dibber, forget about them over winter, and then, six months later, you'll be greeted with elegant, drooping bells,' Bestall advised his followers.
He even suggested a playful approach to sharing this gardening joy: secretly planting the bulbs in friends' and family members' gardens to create a pleasant surprise when summer arrives. In his post caption, Bestall emphasized: 'So yes, not all bulbs demand full sun and a Mediterranean climate. The Honey Lily is here to prove that even the shady corners of the garden can put on a show.'
This November planting strategy offers hope to gardeners everywhere who've struggled with shaded spaces, proving that with the right bulb choice, even the darkest garden corners can burst into life come summer.
