Flower bulbs will thrive among the roots of perennials and shrubs. Bulbous plants emerge early, at a time when perennials and shrubs are not yet in leaf. This means that the flower bulbs will have plenty of light and space to create a lovely flowering display. Even so, it is sometimes more difficult to get the flower bulbs into the soil. The soil is often hard, and the roots can make digging the holes for the bulbs difficult. For these reasons, make the planting holes as small as you can and plant each flower bulb separately in its own little hole. To make things easier, you could try using a special flower bulb planter; this tool will also minimise the damage to the roots of the perennials and shrubs.