Alphabetical Plant Listing

Naturalizing Bulbs In The Lawn

Naturalizing, Spring Bulbs, Crocus, Narcissus, Scilla, Galanthus, Anemones


Naturalizing bulbs is a terrific way to brighten up lawns. A surprisingly large number of perennial bulbs do well in grass, such as snowdrops (Galanthus), crocuses (Crocus), squills (Scilla), checkered lilies (Fritillaria meleagris) and plenty others charming bulbs. Left undisturbed in the ground, they will emerge again every spring, but will also gently multiply as long as they receive the right light conditions and are planted in soil with the proper drainage.

  • For great impact, create natural-looking plantings and do not space your bulbs evenly. Toss them gently on the lawn, planting them wherever they fall to achieve a natural look. Most bulbs look their best when grown in swathes and informal drifts. Never forget to leave room for natural increase.
  • Choose a limited palette of colors and try to mass them. Do not try to intermingle too many colors or your planting would look unnatural and confusing.

Planting perennial bulbs in lawns requires some adjustments to the mowing regime.

  • Since lawns need mowing, the choice is mostly restricted to bulbs blooming in early-mid spring or in the fall. Resist the urge to make the first cut as soon as the bulbs have finished flowering. Cutting down bulb foliage before it has properly ripened will deprive the bulb of much needed nourishment and make for a poor second-year display. To be assured of a profuse flowering next year, the lawn should not be cut until 6 weeks after flowering is finished. The later the bulbs bloom, the longer you need to wait.
  • if you plant colchicums and fall crocuses in the grass, you will have to stop mowing your lawn in late summer.
  • Cut the lawn fairly short in late fall to allow your spring bulbs to neatly peep up from under the ground.

Guide Information

Plant Type Bulbs, Perennials
Plant Family Colchicum - Autumn Crocuses, Crocus, Galanthus - Snowdrops, Scilla - Squills
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit
Compare All Colchicum - Autumn Crocuses Compare All Crocus Compare All Galanthus - Snowdrops Compare All Scilla - Squills Great Plant Combination Ideas with Crocus Great Plant Combination Ideas with Galanthus - Snowdrops Guides with Colchicum - Autumn Crocuses Guides with Crocus Guides with Galanthus - Snowdrops Guides with Scilla - Squills

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While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Plant Type Bulbs, Perennials
Plant Family Colchicum - Autumn Crocuses, Crocus, Galanthus - Snowdrops, Scilla - Squills
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit
Compare All Colchicum - Autumn Crocuses Compare All Crocus Compare All Galanthus - Snowdrops Compare All Scilla - Squills Great Plant Combination Ideas with Crocus Great Plant Combination Ideas with Galanthus - Snowdrops Guides with Colchicum - Autumn Crocuses Guides with Crocus Guides with Galanthus - Snowdrops Guides with Scilla - Squills

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