Ali, **spring bulbs with a few primroses** would be my first choice under established apple trees. Bulbs are particularly useful beneath deciduous trees, where they can grow before the leafy canopy develops. ([rhs.org.uk](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/bulbs/naturalising-in-grass)) These are good options: - **Snowdrops** – white flowers in late winter and early spring. Well suited to partial shade beneath trees, provided the soil isn’t permanently wet. ([rhs.org.uk](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/snowdrops?utm_source=openai)) - **Crocus tommasinianus** – lilac-purple colour in late winter and early spring. I’d use these in informal groups towards the brighter edges beneath the trees. ([wisley.rhs.org.uk](https://wisley.rhs.org.uk/bareadetails/42/1?utm_source=openai)) - **Small daffodils, such as ‘Tête-à-Tête’** – a cheerful spring display without the height of larger daffodils; suitable for naturalising in short grass. ([rhs.org.uk](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/daffodils/growing-guide?utm_source=openai)) - **Primroses (*Primula vulgaris*)** – soft yellow spring flowers. Choose spots with moist but well-drained soil and some shade, rather than the driest ground close to the trunks. ([rhs.org.uk](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/13901/i-primula-vulgaris-i-pr-prim/details?utm_source=openai)) - **Cyclamen coum** – pink or white flowers in winter and early spring, with attractive rounded leaves. A good option for well-drained, lightly shaded ground that becomes drier in summer. ([rhs.org.uk](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/5135/cyclamen-coum/details)) **My suggested combination:** repeat small groups of snowdrops, purple crocuses and miniature daffodils, with primroses dotted between them. ### Getting them established If you’re gardening in the UK, **late September is a good time to plant daffodils and crocuses** for next spring. Make small planting holes between tree roots rather than digging over the whole area. If they’re growing in grass, leave the bulb foliage to yellow naturally before mowing; daffodils need at least six weeks after flowering. ([rhs.org.uk](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/bulbs/planting)) Are your apple trees growing in grass or in an open bed, and does the soil underneath become very dry in summer?