What is a Bulb Lasagne? With the lasagna method, flower bulbs are planted in different layers so that new flowers appear over and over again.
No, the lasagna method has nothing to do with the kitchen. In fact, it’s about bulbs and how they are layered in the garden.
If you want to have a magnificent garden full of different flowers in spring, you should plan the arrangement in the flowerbed now. Pots can also be put in the limelight in such a splendid way, for example for a small balcony with little space.
In addition, a permanent planting is created because different flowers shine again and again in full color.
But what exactly is the lasagna method when planting flower bulbs? How is it best done and how are the most beautiful patterns created?
What is the lasagna method?
For those who want to plant pots, or have little space available and still do not want to forgo full blooms, rely on the layer planting, called lasagna – method .
You combine large and small flower bulbs and place them deep or shallow in the flower pot, depending on their size.
The lasagna method is a particularly smart way of planting flowers. Like a lasagna, they are placed on top of each other in different layers. Alternatively, this type of planting is also called layered or tiered planting .
It’s divided into different-looking flowers that stick their heads out of the earth at different times.
So flowers keep coming up and the flower pot or the flowerbed is not empty when the first flowers have faded. Flowers should be selected that bloom best one after the other, so the bed is always full.
The flowers that bloom first are placed on top. So start with early bloomers such as crocuses , snowdrops, tulips or daffodils and then use bulbs that bloom at a later point in time. It is important to note the successive flowering times so that not all flowers bloom at the same time.
The bulbs are then arranged according to their size. The thicker bulbs come down, the smaller ones up. By taking advantage of the different levels, the splendor of the flowers is particularly dense in spring.
If you plan very well, you can fill your flowerbed with impressive flowers from January to May. Incidentally, the bulbs for the lasagne method are planted from September to December, always before the first frost.
Pattern with the lasagna method
The patterns appear almost automatically if you stick to using flowers that poke their heads out of the earth at different times. To do this, you should start with different early bloomers and then plant flowers that will impress you with their splendor at a later point in time. The following methods are highly recommended:
Method one (Beginner)
● Above : Crocus
● Middle : Hyacinths
● Below : Tulips
Method two (Advanced)
● Above : daffodils
● Middle 1 : hyacinths
● Middle 2 : blue stars
● Below : grape hyacinths
Note: In order to get nice patterns, you should arrange the flowers in circles, triangles or rectangles. So the flowers would form different patterns when they come out of the earth.
Planting bulbs in layers – instructions
Every beginning is difficult and it takes a long time to wait for the flowers to poke their heads out of the ground. It’s a shame when it doesn’t work properly. To prevent this from happening, we have prepared instructions.
Material and tools
For our planting idea, you need a terracotta pot as deep as possible with a diameter of around 28 centimeters, a pottery shard, expanded clay, synthetic fleece, high-quality potting soil, three hyacinths ‘Delft Blue‘, seven daffodils ‘Baby Moon’, ten grape hyacinths, three horn violets ‘Golden’ Yellow ‘as well as a planting shovel and a watering can. There are also decorative materials such as decorative pumpkins, decorative bast and sweet chestnuts.
What you need for floor planting
- A flower pot: It should be large, and high enough so that the flowers can be planted in layers. There should also be holes in the bottom so that water can drain off. Our recommendation is a round pot with at least 28 centimeters in diameter. But it can also be bigger.
- Expanded clay: Clay balls that can be used for hydroponics.
- Potting soil: It’s advisable to use high quality potting soil.
- Flower bulbs: Your choice. You can find inspiration from the above recipes for beginners, and advanced gardeners.
- Plant plug with lettering: for decoration
The ideal onion mix
All spring bloomers are suitable for the lasagna method. However, varieties with different planting depths must be combined with one another.
Since the planting depth is about twice the bulb size, this means that at least one variety with large, medium and small bulbs is required. You have complete freedom of choice when it comes to the composition of the colors.
Last but not least, when all the bulbs are covered with soil, you can add a few other, low-growing plants such as horned violets to the pot . Its flowers fill in the last gaps in the carpet of flowers.
Lasagne method – this is how it’s done
- The pot is prepared with expanded clay. To do this, the expanded clay is distributed in an approx. 2-5 cm thick layer at the bottom of the pot. The thickness of the layer depends on the size and height of the pot.
- Now a thin layer of earth follows.
- Then put the first layer of flower bulbs in the pot. The thickest bulbs are planted first. If a pattern is desired, the bulbs should be aligned according to the pattern.
- A layer of earth comes over this again.
- Now the next flower bulbs follow. However, they should not be placed directly on top of the other onions, but placed slightly offset.
- This is followed by another layer of earth and again slightly offset flower bulbs.
- Then put another layer of earth on top.
- Finally, the flower studs with the names of the flowers are put into the pot and your flower bulb lasagna is ready.
In order to be able to welcome the coming spring in all its colorful splendor, the first preparations have to be made at the end of the gardening year.
If you want to plant pots or only have a little space available and still don’t want to do without a full bloom, you can rely on the layered planting, the so-called lasagne method.
You combine large and small flower bulbs and place them deep or shallow in the flower pot, depending on their size . By using different plant levels, the flowers are particularly dense in spring.
What are the advantages of the lasagna method?
The flowering time of the area can be extended from January to May with the help of the lasagne method, as explained by iBulb — an association of companies in the bulb flower industry.
The order of the planting results from the different flowering times. The bulbs that bloom last come at the bottom, and those that bloom the earliest are at the top.
Plant bulbs using the lasagna method – layer by layer
i). The first layer
With the lasagne method, the bottom layer in the pot consists of expanded clay or potsherds, which form a drainage system.
If you use the planting technique in the garden, however, this is not necessary. There the first real layer consists of ten centimeters of potting soil, followed by the first layer of flower bulbs – usually the tulips. You can also put them very close to each other, thereby intensifying the flower effect.
ii). The second layer
After a five centimeter high intermediate layer of potting soil, the second filling of hyacinths and daffodils follows. Here, too, the planting can be tight, if not too tight to allow the leaves to develop. iBulb recommends a few millimeters between the individual onions.
iii). The third layer
After another intermediate layer of earth, the lasagne method is followed by the third layer of anemones, dwarf irises, grape hyacinths or Siberian squill.
They are covered with a layer of soil and this is firmly pressed. The flower bulbs are now given water as well as in January and February so that they do not dry out.
Background: bulbs and tubers of spring flowers must be planted in autumn. They need the cold stimulus of winter to bloom in spring.
Plant top layer
Yellow horn violets are now placed with the pot balls directly on the bulbs of the grape hyacinths. There is enough space for three plants in the pot.
Fill up with soil
Fill the gaps between the roots of the pots with potting soil and carefully press them down with your fingers. Then water well.
Decorate the pot
Finally, we decorate our pot to match the season with orange-colored natural raffia, chestnuts and a small decorative pumpkin.
Conclusion
The Lasagne method is great for gardeners that want to manage their space, it’s also wonderful because it results in an amazing burst of colors when grown.
In this article, the lasagne method has been discussed, alongside its full process of growth.
