Planting Bulbs - Fall Labors Yield Spring Flowers!

- by Sarah E. Cavanaugh, Landscape Designer

September is the perfect time for planting bulbs for spring and summer blooming the following year. A little planning and planting ahead can yield a bounty of spring color!

Fall is the Time to Plant!

Early autumn is the optimal time to plant. Daffodils bulbs start sending out roots in the fall and the earlier you plant them the better. Other types of bulbs can be planted anytime during the fall months - by the end of November at the latest. (TIP:  Don't forget to water your newly planted bulbs. Use just enough water to keep the soil moist, not wet.)

Selecting Bulb Varieties and Planting Locations

My first rule when planting bulbs is to plant A LOT. If your budget is limited, choose one type of bulb and plant as many as you can. Digging a large hole and planting 15-20 Daffodils is an easy way to make a big impact. (TIP: Using several varieties of one type will give a longer season of bloom.) Annuals or later blooming perennials can be planted over these drifts of bulbs to fill the area once they are done blooming. 

Larger flowering bulbs are easiest when planted in beds where the foliage can stay in place until it is yellow. I had great success planting a large quantity of flowering Daffodil mix in a border about 2 feet wide and 40 feet long. Directly behind it, I planted a row of mixed Daylilies. The Daylily foliage draped over the space left by the spent Daffodils.

In early spring, when there are still a lot of drab days any spot of color will pop out and cheer us. Small bulbs such as Crocus, Chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow) and Galanthus (Snowdrops) can be planted directly in the lawn. Because of their early bloom time, they will not be damaged by mowing their foliage later in the spring. A sweeping lawn full of tiny blooms is indeed something to behold! 

Daffodils or Tulips?

Ask anyone to name popular bulb plants, and invariably Daffodils and Tulips come to mind. I, myself, prefer daffodils rather than tulips because, as a rule, they survive longer in the garden. Daffodils are not eaten by rodents and deer and tolerate a variety of soil conditions. 

Tulips are prone to being eaten by any number of animals and if the soil is heavy they often rot. However, I don't wish to discourage anyone from planting tulips, as several varieties of tulips can be quite stunning and beautiful. So, if you can't resist planting them, and your budget permits, tulips can be treated like annuals. Plant the bulbs in the fall, in well-drained soil, and enjoy them the following spring. Just be aware that you may need to replant because of hungry wildlife.

Guidelines for Planting Bulbs

How deep to plant a bulb is determined by the size of the bulb. A general rule of thumb is 3 to 4 times the diameter of the bulb. For example, a bulb 3 inches across should be planted 9 to 10 inches deep. When planting bulbs, make sure to place the bulb shoot side up! As depths may vary slightly with different types of bulbs, always follow any specific planting directions that were provided with your purchase.

Where to Purchase Bulbs

You can find bulbs in many local garden shops or nurseries or by mail. I find that buying through the mail gives a larger selection than most nurseries. This makes it much easier to purchase a custom mix of varieties like we talked about earlier.

So, what are you waiting for? Get digging!

Please refer to our Annuals & Perennials Archive for additonal articles.

Author Profile:

Sarah Cavanaugh received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Landscape Architecture from Rutgers University. She has over seventeen years of professional experience in all phases of Landscape Architecture and Design with eleven years as sole proprietor of her own landscape design business.

Her areas of expertise include all phases of residential design as well as small commercial projects. Should you wish to contact Sarah, she can be reached at secld@mac.com.