Complete Practical Handbook of Garden Bulbs

Beautiful bulbs provide a display of spectacular colours and dramatic shapes throughout the seasons, from the best-loved and well-known daffodils and tulips to the exquisitely dainty fritillaries and delicate anemones. This glorious book shows how bulbs can be used to transform every garden, not just in spring but for every season. A fascinating overview of the remarkable history of bulbs and bulb gardening is followed by a comprehensive practical section. Clear and helpful step-by-step techniques show how to plant bulbs in beds and borders, beneath trees, in grass, and in different tubs, window boxes and hanging baskets. There is expert information on feeding, watering, deadheading, propagation and overwintering, as well as how to identify the different pests and diseases and how best to deal with them. The beauty of bulbs does not have to be confined to garden borders, and this book explores the creative potential of bulb gardening in patio containers and baskets, under glass and also indoors. Advice on equipment, materials, and all the various pots, planters, baskets and troughs is given, and an at-glance calendar of care is a useful seasonal summary of what to do when, to create maximum impact, colour and drama in your garden. An easy-to-use bulb directory presents the best bulbs for colour, scent, shape and different soil and climate conditions. Succinct text entries provide information on the origins, hardiness and cultivation of over fifty key bulbs. With its lavish photographs and practical advice, this is the ideal reference book for anyone wanting a few bulb-filled pots or for more ambitious gardeners who plan to create a spectacular display of colour throughout the year.