Fall Bulb Planting Tips

When to plant Fall Bulbs

Wait ‘till it’s good and cold

Bulbs should be planted after the ground cools down. In New England, this is anytime after the first frosts, but before the ground freezes hard. You probably want to buy them early so you have the best selection, but around here, wait until October to put them in the ground. Until then, keep them in a cool, dry place. Also keep the label with the bulbs until planting. Without the label, you can’t tell the red tulips from the white ones.

Where to plant

You can plant bulbs just about anywhere in your garden. However, there is a saying that “bulbs don’t like wet feet” so avoid the bottom of a hill or other areas where water collects. Bulbs need light to bloom. Ideally you should try to plant in Eastern, Southern, or Western exposures where they’ll get six hours of light per day. (“light” does not have to be direct sunlight – filtered light is fine).

How deep?

It’s best to follow the instructions on the package, but the rule of thumb is plant big bulbs about 8” deep and small bulbs about 5” deep. Also consider the proximity to the house or other buildings, and plant the bulbs at least 5 feet from foundations, as heat from the buildings can damage bulbs. When “dropping” the bulb, try to have the pointy side face up – in most cases, however, if you don’t get it right the bulb flower will still find its way topside.

Planting Supplies

Better soil grows better blooms. Dig the soil with a bulb planter, trowel or shovel. If it’s loose and workable, great! If not, you’ll want to mix in some compost. Compost adds nutrients into the soil, improves the soil structure, and provides a healthy biodiversity. Compost helps sandy soil retain water, and helps plants resist harmful bacteria and fungi. Warning: over-doing compost is not a good idea – it can “burn” the bulbs.