Naturalising means bulbs growing and seeding as they would in the wild; i.e. “in nature”. In most gardens this means growing bulbs in grass instead of borders.
To naturalize bulbs they need to be planted where they can remain undisturbed without the need for the foliage to be prematurely removed. Leaves need to die back for about six weeks after the flowers have faded.

Growing Bulbs in Grass

• Crocus will thrive for years if planted in grass with a dry or fast draining soil. If the lawn is lush and gets lots of high nitrogen fertilizer it will stunt the flowering process of the bulbs. You’ll get lots of foliage but no flowers.
• Plant in groups or clusters so you can mow the other area.
• You need to be patient as a bulb seedling will take 5-7 years before it has built up reserves to flower.
• Some bulbs do better than others in grass including Iris danfordiae and reticulata, Grape Hyacinth Muscari, Scilla, Snowdrops and small Daffodils.

Naturalising in Soil and thin Grass

• Wood Anemonies will self seed and naturalise in a woodland glade
• Hardy cyclamen multiply by seed dispersal and naturalise.
• Winter aconites are also good naturalisers.
• For yellow ‘wild’ daffodil varieties try Narcissus lobularis and the Tenby daffodil Narcissus obvallaris.
• The dramatic white Narcissus  ‘Actea’ follows a bit later and if you can wait the May flowering Pheasant Eye daffodil, Narcissus poeticus recurvus can be spectacular.