borders with bulbs

I think I got carried away planting bulbs around the garden as oncecspring has gone they will be past there best leaving my borders bare in the summer, how do you get round this ?

Many thanks Jamie

 

It's possible to double up on spring-flowering and summer flowering bulbs and bulbous plants. Agapanthus, Nerines, Dahlias, Gladioli and Cannas.....they probably don't need to be dug up and stored for winter, either. Just give them a good mulch in autumn.

 

Take it I can't put anuals around them for the summer as this will rot them?

 

Yes you can put annuals. As well as those suggested by Noisette, you can also put something like Hemerocallis, Schizostylis which have strap shaped leaves and flower all summer and autumn. All depends on the look you're going for. The plants you put in won't rot the bulbs but you do need to make sure you don't disturb them too much. Are your spring bulbs mostly Tulips? If so, sadly, you may not get many next year whatever you do. If they're Daffodils etc though you'll be fine.

 

I've planted my tulips very deeply and am feeding them with seaweed in the hope of a repeat show next year.

 

I usually get two years from Tulips planted in deep pots but not as much luck in a border even when just as deep. Don't know why!