Naturalizing Bulbs in Lawns
Naturalizing simply means that once plants are established, they
increase in numbers naturally. The hopefully end result is a
fantastic drift of crocuses or whatever type of bulb
you have used. Naturalizing is typically done in
lawns or other areas of grass. It can also be done in borders just
make sure the bulbs are going to be left undisturbed!
While you can naturalize any type of bulb, it is mainly spring
flowering bulbs that are used when naturalizing in lawns and other
areas of grass so that the grass can still be cut afterwards.
Just use vigorous species and varieties (that doesn't necessarily
mean largest!) that can be left alone to their own devices.
The following all work very well: Anemone nemorosa, Crocus
chrysanthus, C. sieberi C. tommasinianus , most daffodils,
Galanthus nivalis & Scilla siberica
You should leave at least six weeks after flowering before
mowing, and ideally until the foliage goes yellow. Spring flowering
'bulbs' stock up on food and create next years flower before the
foliage dies down. This means any kind of tying up leaves or
other tidying is less then useful with any bulb!
Planting the bulbs is easy, just sometimes tedious if you're
doing a lot! For larger bulbs, in the autumn, scatter the
bulbs over the chosen area and then dig individual planting holes
using a bulb planter or trowel. The holes need to be three
times the depth of the bulb. Drop in the bulb and then
replace the plug of turf.
Another option useful for smaller 'bulbs' like crocuses is to
lift sections of tuft and scatter the bulbs underneath before
replacing the turf. Firm the turf by hand or by gently tamping with
the back of a rake to make sure its level with the surrounding
After that, wait and see what happens. Do remember,
however, that naturalised bulbs takes years to achieve and
regardless of how many you planted it never looks that much in the
first few years. Patience.