What to do when tubs are finished ?

Hi all
we have some tubs that we planted with crocus bulbs and winter pansies.
Although our neighbour said it wouldnt work they looked a picture. They are now starting to fade off. Im a bit thick when it comes to gardening but i thought there maybe a way of saving them for next year? can you cut them off or something?

Also we planted loads of tulips which again have been great. How do you cut them when they are finished?

 

Leave the leaves of the crocuses and tulips to die back on their own. Most bulbs should be left to die back naturally. When the leaves are brown they should come away from the bulb with a gentle tug. This could take a number of weeks. The sap drops to give nutrients to the bulb for flowering the following year, so when the leaves are brown the process is complete. Alternatively, you could take the bulbs out if you want to use the pots for other plants and let them die back while stored for replanting in the autumn.

The pansies don't usually do very well if kept for the following winter, thy tend to be scruffy. A lot of gardeners will start with fresh plants. However, after flowering you can collect the seed heads for growing new plants but they don't normally have the same flowers as the parent plant as most are hybrids (cross breeds).

 

cheers for that guys

 

We have "liners" in our tubs, so we can replace the plants (by swapping the liners) and then we have a number of different liners "round the back" (or in the greenhouse) getting ready for the next season. Some small topiary for the Winter, Spring bulbs for now, and Fuchsias / Lobellia / Petunias / Geraniums (bit like a hanging basket plant mix) for the Summer.

 

What a great idea Kristen thats something i'm going to give a go.....

 

Our tubs are a bit bigger than yours, but the full story is on my blog in case of interest:

http://kgarden.wordpress.com/projects/versailles-planters/#Gallery

 

Those tubs look great, not boringly conventional.

I've scaled down to one large pot at the front of the house now but I used to have a few good sized ones. Large plastic pots round the back with Spring Bulbs, various grasses and mixed planting. Once the bulbs were going over I'd alternate between the latter to keep a bit of variety going.

It's a good idea if you're successional planting bulbs for a display. Choose your display pot/s then plant a few insert tubs up and choose the best.

 

On the Beechgrove gardening program they planted Spring bulbs in tubs in multiple layers (the container must have been STUFFED!!) to get a succession. Seemed like a good idea, but I've not tried it.