I'm a gardening pro – do my essential £2.49 Home Bargains hack now to bring your bulbs back next year
Scroll down to win more than £350 of Veg Trug planters from Robert Dyas
GROUND FORCE I'm a gardening pro – do my essential £2.49 Home Bargains hack now to bring your bulbs back next year
It's that tricky time between spring and summer bulbs.
Your daffodils need deadheading, while your tulips are probably nearing the end.
2
What we'd all like our tulips to look like in the Spring
Credit: Getty
2
Deadheading daffodils is a way of boosting the bulb for next year
Credit: Getty
And instead of gorgeous bright blooms filling your outside space with colour, chances are that by now that bank of bulbs could look a bit past its peak.
It begs the question though - what DO you do with all those straggly, half munched leaves making a mess in your beds?
What you DON'T want to do - is cut away all the green leaves from your daffodils and tulips, even if they're getting on your nerves.
It may look like they're over it - but they're actually creating energy to store in the bulb and packing it with nutrients - to make sure it can go again next year.
And make sure you definitely deadhead - this stops both tulips and daffodils from wasting time making seeds - and helps them focus on the bulb itself.
Some experts recommend plaiting the leaves - so at least they're tidy while they're soaking up the sun.
I've done this - its actually a really mindful exercise, and at least makes it look tidy if nothing else.
And others reckon you should dig up the bulbs to store until they need planting again.
I've never done this - life's too short and I don't have the space to store them.
However there is a key handy hack you can do right now - which should boost the bulbs energy levels in the hope they'll bless you with a 2026 showgarden.
Gardener shares 'genius' bulb planting hack that will give your months of spring flowers & it takes seconds to do
Give them a decent dose of liquid feed this weekend - ideally a high potassium fertiliser - but any liquid feed will do.
Home Bargains are currently selling Westland All Purpose Plant Food for just £2.49.
It contains seaweed, which is a great addition to any plant feed.
Just give them a regular dose until the foliage has completely died out - and you're giving them the best chance to return again next year.
Once the leaves have yellowed, you can get stuck in - they should come away in your hands really easily.
And then just pray to the bulb Gods that they'll come back to bless you next year.
ALSO IN VERONICA'S COLUMN THIS WEEK
Best Gardening tech, plus competitions and a chance to win £1000 of Gardena producs and £370 of VEg Trugs thanks to Robert Dyas
PUT down those measuring tapes and get rid of the Garden Design books - the plant tech revolution has arrived.
Designer and Your Garden Made Perfect presenter Tom Massey is creating a Chelsea showgarden this year based on how AI can help transform tree care.
And the RHS has already launched ChatBotanist - an AI-powered tool to provide advice to gardeners.
Here's some of the best other high street innovations.
FRYD helps you plan your veg patches, find the best crops and companion plants for your climate and location - and sets timely reminders.
THRIVE'S CULTIVATING WELLBEING APP encourages gardening for health - and creates a personalised plan tailored to your gardening space and time where you can rack your own progress - and it offers active and mindful activities to do in your outside space.
HOTA offers instant plant solutions. You can map out your bed and aspect, use its soil ID tech, and then rely on its algorithm to come up with a list of plants that will thrive - and where to buy them.
GOOGLE PIXEL'S GEMINI Literally point the phone at a plant in a garden centre and ask Gemini Live - in real time - questions like: 'is this good for my south facing garden - and if not, which similar plants would work.'
Show it a struggling specimen and ask it what's wrong - or even use the Pixel Studio app to visualise how that piece of garden furniture you're hankering after, would fit in your outside space.
ELHO SMART PEBBLE Stick this nifty little gadget into your houseplant pot - set up the app - and the pebble will alert you to when attention is needed on water levels, light exposure, temperature and nutrient needs.
STIGA operates their mower from an app - where you can measure out your garden using Google maps to help it move between different areas with ease - and it won't kill any hedgehogs. .
IRRIGATION There's lots of smart water timers out there that allow you to take control of irrigating your garden - with just an app and a box you attach to your outside tap. But Gardena has gone one step further - offering a sensor in the soil that measures moisture and cancels the planned irrigation if needs be.
NEWS! GROW-your-own gardening expert, Huw Richards, has teamed up with GARDENA to launch a Top of the Plots competition.
Launched with the support of The National Allotment Society - from May 19, gardeners can enter by submitting photos and descriptions of their plots or allotments via email, with the selected category.
The main awards include Best Allotment, Best Garden Plot and Best New Plot - a plot started in the past 12 months, From these, the overall winner will be crowned Plot of the Year.
Plus there's additional recognition for Kids on the Plot, Best Small Plot - such as a windowsill garden, Biodiversity on the Plot, and Best Community Plot.
The main competition prize is £1,000 worth of GARDENA products and gardening vouchers, as well as a champion's plaque.
For more information visit www.gardena.com/uk.
NEWS! Ambassador for National Children's Gardening week, Lee Connelly - AKA The Skinny Jean Gardener - is embarking on a school tour which will see him inspire 10,000 children to get gardening.
The 2025 UK School Gardening Tour will bring hands on gardening experiences to schools across the country, highlighting its benefits for sustainability, mental well-being and education. It will include interactive workshops - and showcase how outdoor learning supports subjects like science and maths.
'The tour will show kids that growing their own plants isn't just fun, it's a skill for life' he told Sun Gardening.
For more information visit www.skinnyjeangardener.co.uk
WIN! Robert Dyas is offering one lucky reader the chance to win nearly £370 worth of Veg Trugs - the perfect raised beds to grow vegetables. You can win a medium classic raised planter worth £159.99, a proper cover for it (£89.99)and a herb raised planter worth £74.99. To enter visit www.thesun.co.uk/VEGTRUG or write to Sun Veg Trug competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Ends 23.59GMT 17.05.25 T&Cs apply.
For more gardening news, tips and competitions, follow me @biros_and_bloom
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
14 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Best dressed celebs revealed in major new poll of internet fashion fans – but do you agree?
Read on to find out the top 10 most stylish stars FROCK AND AWE Best dressed celebs revealed in major new poll of internet fashion fans – but do you agree? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SUPERSTAR singer Sabrina Carpenter is the celebrity with the most sought after wardrobe, figures show. Every month more than 49,000 people worldwide search online for the glamourous outfits and the US pop star, 26, wears on stage and red carpets. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 Sabrina Carpenter is the celebrity with the most sought after wardrobe Credit: Getty 5 Sabrina topped the list in research by clothes retailer Superdry Credit: Getty 5 Olivia Rodrigo came in at number two Credit: Getty The Please Please Please hit-maker's array of mini skirts, gowns, corsets and go-go boots have often caused a stir. She topped the standings in research by clothes retailer Superdry on the most-searched stars. Sabrina was emphatically clear of runner-up, fellow singer Olivia Rodrigo, who racked up more than 34,500 searches. Spider-Man actress Zendaya, supermodel Kendall Jenner, and singer Rihanna completed the top five in the list. read more on sabrina carpenter LOOKING AT HER Sabrina Carpenter rocks romper at Lollapalooza as she brings out guest Sabrina has become one of music's biggest global stars thanks to the success of her breakthrough 2004 album Short N Sweet. Sabrina had opened up about her fashion style at the Met Gala in New York earlier this year. She had turned heads at the event in May by wearing a burgundy Louis Vuitton designed bodysuit with a tailored tuxedo jacket with tails. She had explained: 'It's important for my glam to look like my own. 'I want it to meld seamlessly with my outfit without overpowering it. 'I have a signature base and then add different elements to change it up depending on the colour or style of my look.' Sabrina Carpenter rocks tiny romper on-stage at Lollapalooza in Chicago as she brings out beloved band The 10 most fashionable stars Sabrina Carpenter Olivia Rodrigo Zendaya Kendall Jenner Rihanna Hailey Bieber Sofia Richie Blake Lively Gigi Hadid Sydney Sweeney 5 Spider-Man actress Zendaya was number three on the list Credit: Getty
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
6 plants to put in borders or pots now & give your garden a late-summer glow-up with flowers & fragrance until October
The flowers are gorgeous and will make your home the envy of all PETAL POWER 6 plants to put in borders or pots now & give your garden a late-summer glow-up with flowers & fragrance until October AUGUST is the perfect time to breathe some new life and beauty into your garden. Now that we're sadly in the final few weeks of summer, many think it's time to stop worrying about glamming up the garden, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Here are some stunning additions you can put into your garden now to ensure beauty all through autumn. Calendula (Pot Marigold) 6 Calendula flowers can also be used as a natural aromatherapy Credit: Getty A hardy choice with a seed that's quick to flower and often blooms into October. They are bright, easy to manage, and are perfect for a day of gardening with your little ones thanks to the large seeds. These can be sown directly into planters and tend to germinate quickly. You should plant these at least eight weeks before the first autumn frost for the best results. Pot marigolds are known to grow quickly and are not fussy about the soil. They also have the potential to flower until autumn if the weather stays mild. These flowers also attract pollinators and they even have petals that are edible. Sweet Alyssum 6 Lobularia maritima 'Carpet of Snow' is an annual plant with a white summertime flower commonly known as sweet alyssum Credit: Getty Another robust flower that blooms quickly and has a gorgeous scent, it's also known as "carpet of snow" because of how the white blooms amass in a garden. There are also pink and purple varieties of the Sweet Alyssum, if you want a bit more colour. It is sturdy enough to grown anywhere, and it is best to sow its seed directly where you want the flower to grow, according to Gardeners World. Be sure to plant it in well-drained soil and full sun or light shade. Nasturtium 6 A nasturtium can brighten up any area Credit: Getty Nasturtium plants produce bright orange, red or yellow flowers - perfect for a colourful garden. This flower grows quickly and thrives in cooler weather. Gardeners' World said: "They're also a magnet for bees and are great for growing amongst your veg – they'll lure white butterflies away from cabbages and aphids away from beans." Autumn Crocus 6 Beautiful autumn crocuses on a sunny day Credit: Getty These flowers are also known as also known as Colchicom - or 'naked ladies' because they come up without any leaves. If you plant it now, the Autumn Crocus will begin to flower from September. This flower is perfect to help transition out of summer and give your garden an autumnal feel. August is the perfect month to plant as it gives them time to settle in and develop a decent root structure before flowering. They look great in naturalised in grass - especially under trees. Guernsey Lily 6 The Nerine Bowdenii is also known as the Guernsey or Bowden Lily Credit: Getty These bright, pink flowers will start to blossom from late September and early October. They're often known as Jewel Lillies for the gold or silver flecks on their petals make them shimmer in sunlight. It is best to plant these when the temperature starts to drop, according to The English Garden. They should be planted in a moderately fertile, well-drained soil, but need to be protected in much colder temperatures, especially frost, per the RHS. Autumn daffodil 6 Sternbergia lutea yellow flower Credit: Getty A gorgeous yellow flower, which is very quick and easy to plant, and suits all kinds of gardens. "It's ideal for growing en masse to form carpets of flowers when little else is in bloom," per Gardeners' World. After planting the bulbs, well water well to settle the soil. Bulbs and plants in the ground shouldn't need additional watering, except in long dry spells during the growing season.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Royal Family member set for London Fashion Week catwalk alongside model and Real Housewives star
Royals, aristocracy and entertainment stars will join forces to bring Istanbul fashion to LFW Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE King's second cousin will walk London Fashion Week's runway alongside a model and Real Houses star. Lady Amelia Windsor, Lady Victoria Hervey & Juliet Mayhew will walk for Turkish luxury label Barrus SS26 on September 19. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 Lady Amelia Windsor is a second cousin once removed to King Charles III Credit: Splash 4 Socialite and model Lady Victoria Hervey Credit: Getty 4 Real Housewives' Juliet Mayhew is also set to appear Credit: Getty The brand returns to London Fashion Week with its poetic Spring/Summer 2026 collection, 7 Hills, 7 Heals - and this season, the runway will shine brighter with a VIP lineup "reflecting beauty, lineage, and fearless individuality". Lady Amelia Windsor, hailed by Vogue as 'the most beautiful member of the royal family,' will make a special appearance, bringing her effortless fusion of modernity and tradition. Joining her is Lady Victoria Hervey, aristocrat-turned-entrepreneur, whose jet-set glamour and outspoken spirit perfectly embody Barrus's cross-cultural ethos. Juliet Mayhew, breakout star of The Real Housewives of London, known for her candid wit and striking presence, is also set to walk; adding a touch of television sparkle to the show. Blending the spiritual textures of Istanbul with modern tailoring, Barrus's 7 Hills, 7 Heals collection is a tribute to resilience, healing, and femininity. Highlights include aromatherapy-infused scarves (in collaboration with Art de Huile) and luminous nanotechnology fabrics that glow with motion - echoing the unseen energies of the city's seven hills. Working with Art de Huile, created by Ms Hulya Kayhan, brings science and scent to the runaway as Kayhan's expertise as a respected pharmacist and academician with a master's degree from King's College sees her play into the senses, invoking images of the beautiful landscapes and culture Istanbul can offer. Creative Director Neslisah Yilmaz said: 'This is a collection about inner light and layered identity. "Having Amelia, Victoria, and Juliet with us adds a real-world expression of that and we celebrate these strong, stylish women with depth.' Discussing her starring role on the catwalk, Lady Amelia Windsor shared: 'I'm so excited to be part of the Barrus show, and to be stepping out in their stunning designs. "As a lover of all things travel, bringing the culture of Istanbul to London rings true and I can't wait for people to see and experience the spirit of Barrus with its 7 Hills, 7 Heals collection.' Lady Amelia Windsor is unrecognisable in raven wig as the face of Illamasqua make-up's latest collection Joining her is socialite turned entrepreneur Lady Victoria, who said: 'LFW is arguably one of the key dates of the calendar year, and one I never miss. "Being part of this stunning blend of culture, heritage and beauty is something I am excited to be a part of.' TV newcomer Juliet added: 'From the aromatic scents, amazing colours and culture, the Barrus show is unlike any other fashion show I've ever watched or been part of. "The show will bring Istanbul glamour, beauty and heritage and I cannot wait to be seen in their designs.' The show, set for Friday, September 19 at 7pm, will be followed by private showroom previews in London and Paris, with select editorial and pop-up activations to follow.
