Plant These 4 Bulbs and Tubers in March for Continuous Garden Colour

If you do not plant in March in good time, you could be looking at nothing but green for weeks.

Between the final daffodils and the first roses, many gardens have a surprisingly dreary gap. Yet the answer lies literally just a spade-depth below the surface: planting four particular bulb and tuber plants this March will provide an unbroken carpet of colour from early summer through to autumn.

Why March determines summer flower displays

Early bloomers, including tulips and daffodils, deliver the year's first surge of colour. Once their flowers fade, however, many gardens enter a colourless in-between period. This is precisely when the key planting season begins for summer-flowering bulbs and tubers.

In central European climates, the planting window broadly runs from early March until mid-May. However, waiting until late April often postpones the start of summer flowering until July. This can leave you with weeks of foliage alone, even though the weather is already calling for the patio and a sun lounger.

“Those who plant in March do not push flowering back – they bring it forward.”

At this point, soil is usually free from frost, although night-time temperatures can still fall sharply. Many summer tubers make excellent use of these conditions: they first develop strong roots, then foliage, before launching into a real floral spectacle as temperatures rise.

Four planting stars for uninterrupted colour in borders

Garden professionals particularly favour four plant groups in March, as they complement one another perfectly:

• Dahlias for especially long-lasting, eye-catching flowers
• Begonias for partially shaded and shaded areas
• Lilies for fragrant, upright structure
• Peonies as an investment in future springs

Dahlias: an explosion of colour from June to October

Dahlias are among the most dependable summer-flowering plants available. In March, it is best to start their tubers in pots, protected from late frosts. A cold frame, bright stairwell or unheated greenhouse offers a clear advantage.

For a successful start:

• Fill a shallow pot or container with loose, humus-rich compost.
• Lay the tuber horizontally, with the shoot buds facing upwards, and cover it lightly with compost.
• Water it in and place it somewhere bright, but away from icy draughts.
• Do not plant it into the border until night frosts are no longer expected.

The reward is considerable: depending on the variety, dahlias flower from June right into October. They also cater for virtually every colour preference, from white and pastels to almost black shades.

“Dahlias are like a flexible colour tool: they fill precisely the gap where nothing else is flowering.”

Begonias: a solution for shady corners and north-facing balconies

Not every patio enjoys sunshine, and not every border receives light from morning until evening. This is exactly where begonias show their greatest strength. They cope well with partial shade and even tolerate north-facing positions, provided the soil remains loose and evenly moist.

In March, place the tubers in trays or pots with the slightly indented side facing upwards. The compost should be:

• loose and free-draining
• kept consistently slightly moist, but never waterlogged
• positioned somewhere frost-free yet bright

From May onwards, the started plants can move outside, whether into window boxes, containers or directly into shaded borders. Regular watering and removing spent shoots will encourage an uninterrupted supply of fresh flowers until autumn.

Lilies and peonies: structure and fragrance for borders

Lilies: upright columns of summer scent

Lilies add height and fragrance to the garden as well as colour. Plant the bulbs in March at a depth around two to three times their own height. The soil must drain well, as waterlogging can quickly cause lilies to rot.

Suitable positions include:

• full sun with some protection from wind
• lightly shaded spots at the edge of shrubs
• border edges where the tall stems will not be knocked over

Early varieties begin flowering as soon as May, while later ones continue into August. With careful combinations, lilies span exactly the period when many perennials pause between flowering flushes.

Peonies: plant now and benefit for years

Peonies do not suit impatient gardeners, but they are almost essential for anyone planning for the long term. Planting in March establishes the basis for generous flowering in two to three years. These perennials are happy to remain in the same place for decades.

Key points to consider:

Aspect	Recommendation
Position	Sunny to lightly shaded, sheltered from wind
Planting depth	Emerging buds only 3–5 cm below the surface
Soil	Deep, humus-rich and not waterlogged
Patience	Full flowering often only after 2–3 years

“You pay for peonies with patience – and are rewarded with legendary floral abundance for many years.”

How to plan a garden without a flowering gap

To prevent the garden from dropping into a colourless void, one simple question helps: which plants flower when? Deliberately combining spring, summer and autumn bloomers prevents bare weeks.

One possible succession using bulbs and tubers is:

• March to April: crocuses, daffodils, early tulips
• May to June: late tulips, early lilies, first peonies
• June to August: dahlias, begonias, many lilies
• September to October: late-flowering dahlias, some begonias

Including the four plant groups mentioned in your March planting noticeably brings summer flowers forward and almost completely closes the gap between spring blooms and perennial flowering.

Common mistakes – and how to avoid them in March

Several pitfalls are particularly common among new gardeners:

• planting bulbs and tubers in cold, wet clay soil
• ignoring planting depth – planting too deeply or too shallowly stresses plants
• failing to protect tender new growth from late frosts
• leaving too little space, so plants later compete with one another for light

A simple rule is this: if in doubt, plant a little later in March rather than too early into freezing, saturated ground. When sub-zero temperatures are forecast, cover young shoots with horticultural fleece, buckets or upturned crates.

Practical additions for balconies and small gardens

March can also be used productively without a large garden. Dahlias and begonias, in particular, look excellent in containers. If you only have a balcony, plan in layers: place taller varieties at the back, with trailing or low-growing types along the front edge.

Well-tested combinations include:

• a dahlia in a tall container, with low begonias in front
• a fragrant lily in the centre, framed by smaller summer flowers
• a peony in a large, permanently positioned pot as a long-term project

Many retailers offer value packs of mixed summer bulbs in spring. By choosing carefully rather than buying at random, you can create a remarkably dense succession of flowers with only a few pots and borders – provided the crucial tubers and bulbs are in the ground in good time during March.