6 Must-Read Tips for Planting Bulbs in the Fall

Planting bulbs now is a great idea for spring flowers later. But check out our valuable tips before you start digging.

Bulbs are one of the best ways to have a colorful spring garden, but when it comes to fall bulb planting, there are a few things you’ll need to know. Try out these tips this fall, and you should have lots of beautiful blooms next spring!

1. The Right Way to Plant Fall Bulbs

As you are planting bulbs, there are a few things to remember. First, make sure that you choose a spot with at least 6 hours of sunlight. For early bloomers, like daffodils, you can plant in a spot that gets sun before the trees have leaves in the spring. By the time trees start shading your bulb bed, early blooming bulbs should be almost finished for the year. Bulbs also like soil that is rich with organic matter or compost, and they love well-drained soil. Soggy soil or overwatering will cause them to rot. Finally, when you are ready to plant, the general rule of thumb is to plant a bulb three times as deep as the bulb is tall, making sure the pointy part is facing upwards.

2. Prepare the Bulb Bed Well

You don’t want to simply dig a hole and plant the bulb. For the best growth, make sure that you prepare a bed ahead of planting. This means that you’ll need to remove weeds and loosen the soil. It is also a good idea to add compost for nutrients or sand for drainage before you plant.

3. Buy at the Right Time

This is a tough one because nowadays, many stores are selling their fall bulbs in July or August, because they want gardening supplies out of the way in time to set up holiday displays. This means that you’ll either need to store your bulbs carefully for a month or three, or you’ll need to order online or by mail at planting time so that you have fresh, healthy bulbs. If you are stuck buying your bulbs early, then make sure they are firm and plump, with no mold or rot. Leave them in the bag that you purchased them in, and then place that bag in a paper lunch bag so that you can store the bulbs in the fridge without making a mess.

4. Plant at the Right Time

It differs from one climate zone to the next, but no matter where you live, there are a few ways to judge whether or not it is the right time to plant your fall bulbs. In general, try to plant when nightly temperatures are around 40 or 50 degrees, or about six weeks before you expect the ground to freeze. Most spring bulbs need a chilly period to bloom, so if you live in an area where the ground doesn’t freeze (zones 8 to 11), then you’ll need to chill them. Leave the bulbs in the bags you bought them in, and simply place them in your refrigerator for six to 10 weeks before planting. Make sure that you don’t store bulbs with fruits, since the gasses that fruit gives off can make your bulbs go bad.

5. Plant the Right Bulbs

Not all bulbs should be planted in the fall. Dahlias and gladiolus should be planted in the spring, for instance, while daffodils and tulips do well when planted in late summer or early autumn. Here is the rule of thumb: If you are planting a bulb that blooms in the spring, plant it in the fall. For bulbs that bloom early summer or later, plant them in the spring.

6. Wait for Spring to Fertilize

Once you have the bulbs in the ground, they’ll stay dormant for the remainder of the fall and winter, so you won’t need to bother with fertilizing. Wait until you start to see the first shoots of spring, because that is an indicator that the roots are growing and ready for nutrients. You’ll also want to make sure that you don’t fertilize after the bulbs start to flower because this will inhibit bulb growth. If you haven’t tried bulbs in your garden, you definitely should. With daffodils, hyacinths, tulips and other early spring bloomers, bulb beds will give you beautiful color long before the rest of your garden starts to grow.

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Amber Kanuckel

Amber Kanuckel is a freelance writer from rural Ohio who loves all things outdoors. She specializes in home, garden, environmental, and green living topics.

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John

Hello. I live in zone 5a (central NY) and was wondering if it’s possible to plant tulip and hyacinth bulbs in heavy duty window boxes or will the bulbs freeze? Also, could I pull out the bulbs to plant summer flowers in boxes?

Last edited 2 years ago by John
Mimi

Hello there! Thank you for your assistance with those of us who are transplanted city folk?.
I have just received delivery of various onion type bulbs, ie alliums, with instructions to plant when weather is 5-10c(40-50f).
I live in zone 4/5 area and it’s far too warm to plant anytime in the near future with upcoming forecasts in the 20-25c range.
From my research I have found that I can leave them in the fridge until temps are cooler, which is what I am doing. When ready to plant, can I take them right out of the fridge and plant into the ground, or do they need a warming up period before planting?
Thanks in advance!
Mimi

Susan Higgins

Hi Mimi, they go right in the ground!

Bindhu

If I get my online ordered bulbs, just 2 weeks or even little later prior to freeze dates, is it still good to plant them, or store and wait for next year?

Celia Mills

I just got my spring bulbs and I live in Zone 8b can I refrigerate them know and plant them in early Jan?

Susan Higgins

Hi Celia, yes, but you want to let your bulbs dry out for a day or two, then store in the fridge for at least 6 weeks before planting. This will help with flower development.

Breeze Early

Easter sunday is april 4 2021 when should I plant easterlilly bulbs ?

Katharine Ast

Will Squirrels dig up daffodils or Tulips Bulbs ? How to prevent this.

Susan Higgins

Hi Katharine, yes, they will. We found a good article that will help you keep them out here.

frank linet

Wonderful planting information so much good in your writing and SOME folks wrongly FOCUS on “rule of thumb” as being misogynistic ? Crazy and sad .. Don’t let the Neanderthals stop your writing and sharing of useful gardening tips .. Kudos

JewelsL

Really appreciate everyone’s positive comments here.

Gloria

I have always used the rule of thumb for inches in crafting. I used to see my grampa twist his thumb back and forth when whittling and he showed me why.

S. Flatt

In #5 you start a sentence with: “Here is the rule of thumb”. Many years ago an English king ruled that a man could only beat his wife with a stick no bigger in diameter than his thumb. This is the only rule of thumb that I have ever heard of so please, stop using this wording and find something more fitting. Thank you

Susan Higgins

Hi S. Flatt. There are many words and phrases that have made it into our lexicon from olden times. But, in this case, you’re mistaken. Linguist William Safire tells us, “the idea that ‘rule of thumb’ is derived from an early form of spousal abuse is in error.” Instead, the phrase probably came from carpenters who used their thumbs as a quick, handy measuring tool. WordOrigins also reports, “The phrase is almost certainly an allusion to the fact that the first joint an adult thumb measures roughly one inch, literally a rule (or ruler) of thumb.”

Horrified by S Flatt

S. Flatt – what country are you from? This is a very common term in the US that absolutely does not pertain to wife beating!

shelly

can you plant and grow bulbs in pots?

Susan Higgins

Hi shelly, yes! You just make sure you use a good potting mix. Dig the holes the same depth as you would outdoors.

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