This article on Home Living Handbook might contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link on the site, we may earn a commission.
Spring-flowering bulbs like tulips, daffodils, alliums, crocuses, and hyacinths need time underground before they can put on a show. Plant them at the wrong time, choose a soggy spot, or wait too long, and you could end up with weak growth or missing blooms.
The good news is that in my experience, bulbs are pretty forgiving. Keeping these tips in mind can help give your spring garden a much better start.
Mistakes to Avoid Before You Start Planting
1. Planting Too Early or Too Late
Fall is the time to plant spring-flowering bulbs, but that doesn't mean you should rush to get them in the ground as soon as they arrive. Fall soil is different by climate, and some regions have warm soil much later than others. Bulbs need cool soil to develop roots. If you plant too early in warm soil, some varieties could start growing before they're supposed to. That said, too cold isn’t good, either, because they might not have enough time to establish roots.
A good rule is to plant once soil temperatures fall below 60°F. Since most homeowners don't keep a soil thermometer handy, your growing zone offers a useful starting point.
Horticulturist Peggy Anne Montgomery, representing Flowerbulb.eu, shared these general planting windows with us:
- September to October: Zones 4 and 5
- October to early November: Zones 6 and 7
- November to early December: Zones 8 and 9
- Late December to early January: Zone 10, using pre-chilled bulbs
There's some room for flexibility, so don’t worry too much if you missed the best window. “[My husband] always plants late, often way into December in our zone 7, mid-Atlantic garden and they always come up just fine. I guess bulbs don’t read the instructions,“ she notes.
2. Planting Bulbs Too Shallow
Montgomery says shallow planting is the mistake she sees most often. “I think planting depth is the most common mistake because it can be hard digging and people tend to plant them too shallow.“ Bulbs planted too close to the surface are also more exposed to temperature changes and easier for squirrels and other animals to dig up.
A simple rule to remember is to plant bulbs about three times (3x) as deep as their height. A 2-inch bulb, for example, should go about 6 inches into the soil. Check the packaging for variety-specific instructions, since some smaller bulbs need different planting depths.
If digging dozens of holes sounds like a lot of work, get yourself a bulb auger that attaches to a cordless drill.
Mistakes That Affect Where and How Bulbs Grow
3. Choosing a Spot With Poor Drainage
Bulbs sitting in waterlogged soil can rot before they ever have a chance to bloom. Before planting, check how well your garden drains, especially after a heavy rain.
If your soil is heavy clay, add compost. Compost can help to improve its structure. Some homeowners also consider using raised beds and containers. Whatever you choose, the goal is to give bulbs soil that holds enough moisture for root growth without staying wet.
4. Ignoring Sunlight Requirements
Most spring-flowering bulbs prefer full sun to partial shade, and sunlight can hit differently in the garden in the spring than it does in the fall.
Look around and see what you’re dealing with in your yard. A spot under a deciduous tree, for example, might be shady in summer but get plenty of sunlight before the tree grows its leaves. That early-season light can give bulbs the conditions they need to bloom.
5. Skipping Watering After Planting
It's easy to assume that fall and winter rain will take care of newly planted bulbs, but don't skip the first watering. Give them a good drink after planting to settle the soil around them and encourage root growth before winter.
After that, rainfall will often provide enough moisture, depending on your climate and soil conditions. Just avoid keeping the area soggy, since excess water can cause bulbs to rot.
Mistakes That Can Affect Your Spring Display
6. Planting Too Few Bulbs
It's tempting to buy a handful of different varieties and scatter them throughout the garden, but dropping just a few bulbs here and there can make the springtime display look sparse. Instead, plant in clusters or drifts so the flowers create larger patches of color.
“It is so tempting to buy 10 of this kind of bulbs and 10 of that, because we’re gardeners and we want to try them all,“ understands Montgomery. “But planting in large numbers is really the best way to go so they really show up and put on a great display.“
If you want to experiment with several varieties, she suggests planting smaller groups in a vegetable garden and cutting the flowers for indoor arrangements.
7. Forgetting About Wildlife
Squirrels love digging up freshly planted bulbs, while deer can eat flowers once they emerge in spring. While I always smile seeing one of my tulips pop up 40 feet away in the groundcover, it’s worth trying to prevent pests from disturbing our work:
- Choose bulbs that animals tend to avoid. Some experts suggest daffodils and alliums, but I’ve definitely had wildlife move both of those bulbs on my watch. ;)
- Cover newly planted areas with chicken wire to discourage digging. My go-to trick. Make sure the plants come up through the holes in the spring, because the wire can accidentally redirect their growth!
- Use animal repellents designed for garden beds.
- Plant extra bulbs to account for some wildlife losses.
Montgomery takes a fairly relaxed approach to sharing her garden. “My strategy is to plant in numbers. If I plant 100 and they eat 10, I’m ok with that.“ She also likes mixing daffodils in with other varieties because animals tend to avoid them. “
8. Applying Too Much Mulch
Mulch protects garden beds from temperature swings, but piling it on too thick can create problems for spring bulbs. Part of the trouble for me is that I don’t always remember where exactly the bulbs are planted in the fall, and by spring it’s too late because the heavy layer of compacted mulch makes it harder for emerging shoots to push through the surface.
Not only does the mulch create too much of a barrier for the new growth to push through, but it can also trap too much moisture in the soil, increasing the risk of bulb rot. I’ve experienced this firsthand, and lost some great bulbs in the process.
A light layer of loose mulch is usually enough to help insulate the soil and limit weeds. Keep it around 2 to 3 inches deep, and avoid packing it down over newly planted bulbs. If you already have a thick layer in your garden beds, consider thinning it out before spring growth begins.
FAQ
Should you fertilize flower bulbs when planting them in the fall?
“Bulbs already have everything they need to grow and bloom inside them,“ explains Montgomery. “If you do use fertilizer, choose one formulated for bulbs rather than a general-purpose product with lots of nitrogen. Too much nitrogen can encourage leafy growth at the expense of flowers. She adds that she likes using organic bulb fertilizer at planting time; however, she says it's not something to worry about if you don't have any on hand.
Do all spring-flowering bulbs come back every year?
No. Some bulbs, including many daffodils and crocuses, naturalize and return for years when planted in suitable conditions. Others, particularly some hybrid tulips, tend to produce their best display in the first year and might not flower as well in later seasons. Check the variety's description before buying if you want a garden that comes back each spring.
