Fall-Planted Bulb Guide

Fall-planted bulbs are among the crowned jewels of the gardening world for many reasons. Not only do they bloom year after year, but they’re also incredibly versatile and remarkably forgiving. They can be planted too deep, too shallow, upside-down—you name it. Hardly anything bothers these powerhouse plants! Planting bulbs is also an outstanding investment as they will spread and yield more flowers every year under the right conditions. 

Planting Bulbs in the Fall

Fall is the perfect planting time for spring-blooming favorites like Alliums, Crocus, Daffodils, Hyacinth and Tulips. Check your bulbs to ensure they’re firm before planting and are not moldy, mushy, or rotten. We ship bulbs in excellent, ready-to-plant condition, so this shouldn’t be an issue!

When to Plant: Fall-planted bulbs do best planted in the ground as the weather cools. There are a few exceptions to this rule, however, as some fall-flowering bulbs need to be planted immediately. Those exceptions include Lycoris, Autumn Crocus, and Colchicum.

Storing Bulbs: If you can’t plant within a couple of days, store the bulbs in a cool, dry, dark place (not the refrigerator!) until you can plant, hopefully within a couple of weeks.

How to Plant: Follow the directions on the package for planting depth, but three times deeper than they are tall is generally a good rule of thumb. Place the bulb in the ground with the pointy side up. While some have a root plate to make it obvious, others can be a bit more confusing, but don’t worry because bulbs are very resilient and will usually figure it out. Your bulbs will enjoy a dose of fertilizer at planting time. Just incorporate it into the top layer of soil at the recommended rate, and water well after planting. (Water twice if you're gardening under dry conditions.)

Bulb Growing Tips

After planting, all you need is some patience for blooms to emerge in the spring! However, if after blooming critters are threatening to turn your bulbs into a snack, there are several tricks to keeping them away:

• Apply a granular repellent to the top of the soil after watering.
• Lay chicken wire or hardware cloth over the planting spot until they forget the soil is disturbed - typically a couple of weeks.
• Interplant critter-repellent bulbs, such as Alliums or Daffodils, with tried-and-true favorites to give them a better chance.

Bulb Design Tips

The vibrant flowers and foliage of bulbs flourish in front of borders, filling in gaps between other plants, and patio containers.

• Consider the bloom time of each plant and have a variety of bloom times so you can have color throughout the entire season.
• Try sprinkling bulbs around garden beds, planting them in large groups, or creating a visual effect with color groupings.
• It’s always fun to tuck small bulbs in between pavers, within your lawn, or along walkways for little spring surprises!
• You can really express your unique personality and garden style through planting. Whether you're leaning towards a monochromatic aesthetic or something more bright and flashy, think about how you can mix colors and shapes to bring your unique vision to life.
• Don’t forget to check out our bulb blends for pre-designed ideas!