Gardener Tom Strowlger has named crocuses as the flower to plant this weekend for a 'magical display' in the lawn. The time to get them into the lawn is now, before the end of autumn, so they establish their roots over winter and are ready to grow and flower in late winter into early spring.
Best Spot For Crocuses
The ideal location is a spot in the lawn with all year round sunshine, ensuring the area receives any available sunshine during late winter and beyond. Crocus flowers open their petals in direct sunlight, and once they stop flowering the foliage should be left to dieback naturally before the lawn is cut.
Two Planting Methods
Strowlger outlines two methods for planting crocuses. The first involves using a spade to create a small square in the lawn, lifting the turf to leave a hole about 5cm deep, planting crocus corms with the tips facing upwards, then replacing the turf and compressing it down with your feet.
The second method uses a bulb dibber to make holes in the ground, planting a single crocus corm into each hole and adding topsoil to ensure the corm is quilted. Whether planted as a small clump or in swathes across the lawn, both will give a lovely sight at the end of a long winter.
Long-Lasting Displays
The crocuses will multiply and give displays year after year. Once planted, they need no support and will do their magic on their own. Crocus corms are available from bostonseeds.com with a 10% discount using a promo code found on Strowlger's social media profiles, where he shares more seasonal gardening advice.
