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Learn with Andy McIndoe

Bulbs: For Pots & Borders

Andy McIndoe teaches you how to create garden designs with bulbs in containers and borders.

Course overview

Our first lesson looks at the appeal and versatility of flower bulbs. We'll learn how bulbs can be used to add colour and fragrance, when to buy spring flowering bulbs, how to plant bulbs (including depth), and how to re-use last years bulbs. Find out how to store them prior to planting and how to choose bulbs for a specific purpose or situation.

Meet Andy McIndoe

Andy McIndoe is our Chief Blogger, and teaches five courses on the site. Andy has over thirty years experience as a practical horticulturist and consultant. He has designed and advised on gardens of all sizes and was responsible for the Hillier Gold Medal winning exhibit at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower for 25 years. A regular contributor to magazines, newspapers and BBC Radio, Andy lectures widely at home and abroad. Special interests include hardy shrubs, trees, herbaceous perennials, flower bulbs, wildlife and garden design; he has authored books on all of these subjects. A keen gardener, Andy and his wife Ros have a two-acre garden in Hampshire, U.K., that is open to groups by appointment. Started from scratch fifteen years ago, the garden is naturalistic in style, with an extensive wildflower meadow and informal planting. The emphasis is on foliage to provide colour and texture.

Course description

Expert gardener and RHS Chelsea Gold medalist Andy McIndoe shares his passion and knowledge for bulbs (including tulips and daffodils) in this planting Spring bulbs gardening course.

You'll learn which flower bulbs to choose (including looking at hardy and dwarf bulbs), when to plant spring bulbs and where to plant bulbs, and how combine flowers from bulbs to create long lasting and naturalistic designs.

Late summer and autumn through to early winter is the time we should all start thinking about planting our bulbs for Spring. This course prepares you for how to buy and plant a beautiful garden using flower bulbs including tulips, daffodils and other spring bulbs.

Have you ever wondered how people get a blend of scents and colour from bulb flowers in their garden?

Or how to naturalise bulbs in grass so they blend with your landscape?

Or simply how to use bulbs in pots as part of your exterior design for the Spring. Unless you have some understanding of the vast array of bulbs that are available, especially tulips, it's difficult to think beyond having a few bulbs in pots.

During this course we'll discuss now only how to plant spring bulbs, but how to choose appropriate bulbs for your setting, what to mix them with in planting design, and you'll also receive personal advice from Andy himself who is a self confessed tulip fanatic. We automatically tend to think of tulips and daffodils as the main spring bulbs, but Andy will introduce you to a full painting palette of spring bulbs, and enable you to work towards a garden which looks like a spring garden of a true garden designer.

You'll learn:

  • Where to source and buy bulbs
  • Planting bulbs in pots and containers and using layering
  • Combining bulbs with perennials, foliage and other garden plants
  • Planting bulbs directly in the ground
  • Using bulb flowers for colour
  • Types of bulbs including hardy bulbs
  • When to plant bulbs for spring flowers

Time to complete this planting design course:

Every student is different but in general we think the whole course will take around 9 hours 30 minutes to complete including:

  • Video lessons: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Course notes: 30 minutes per lesson
  • Assignment: at least 1 hour per lesson
  • Interactive classroom time: 15 minutes per lesson
  • Tutor feedback review (Expert level): 15 minutes per lesson

You'll need:

You don't need any special equipment, but you will be planning which bulbs you could use and where to source your bulbs from.

The course is suitable for all levels - beginners to garden designers or horticulture professionals who want to learn from a horticultural expert.

The course includes:

  • On-demand video lessons - presented by Andy McIndoe
  • lifetime access to the video, notes and interactive class
  • flexible classes - join and learn when and where you like
  • downloadable lesson notes
  • practical (optional) bulb planning projects
  • access on your mobile, PC, Mac or laptop
  • small interactive online classroom chat online to students from around the world