Bulbs 102: How to plant

It’s bulb planting season and I’m getting ready to get all my new bulbs planted in the ground. This post goes over the basics of how to plant bulbs so that you can have beautiful flowers to welcome you into spring.

Tools:

• shovel or spade
• bulb planter tool or auger (not necessary but makes it easier)
• gardening gloves (again just makes it easier for you)
• plant tag or information about your bulb

Instructions:

• Look at the plant tag or packaging your bulbs came in. This is important because it will tell you how deep to plant your bulbs, how far apart, and where they will do best (ie: sun/parital sun/shade).
• dig a hole the size specified on your plant tag. Tulips are generally 5-6 inches deep. Daffodils are slightly deeper. Crocus’s and small hyacinths are more shallow. It all depends on the type of bulb so that plant tag is important. If you don’t have a tag or packaging instructions, google is your friend here.
• place the bulb in the ground with the root ball side down, The root ball side is the thicker rounder side. The tapered side is the top where the stem and leaves will grow.
• Cover with soil (I like to pack the dirt in slightly) and water the soil well.

How to use the tools:

A bulb planter replaces a shovel when digging the hole in the dirt for the bulb. If you’re buying one, make sure it has markings on the side to help you. It is special because it will tell you how deep down you are in your soil so you know you’re at the right level for your bulbs. Some will have a slide handle that will lift the dirt out for you. I have my grandpas old bulb tool and it doesn’t have this and works just fine.

An auger connects to a basic drill and digs the hole for you. There are different sizes of augers you can buy depending on the size of your bulb. This makes digging SO much easier and way faster.

A shovel bulb digger is similar to the hand held bulb tool but connected to a longer handle with a foot ledge to push into the dirt. It’s just another way to dig a hole but easier for those with back problems.

As a girl I remember my mom buying hundreds of daffodils and tulips and planting them all with a shovel and her hands. She had wrist problems for awhile after that. If you have a bunch to plant, I recommend looking into some of these tools.

Important Tips

• Wait until the temperatures are consistently below 65 degrees F during the day and before the first hard frost.
• Store the bulbs in a cool dry place until you are ready to plant. Generally between 40-60 degrees F. You also want to make sure they have good air circulation. Don’t put them in a plastic bag.
• Make sure your soil drains well in the area that you want to plant. Bulbs can rot and get soggy and then they won’t grow.

You’re all set! I hope you have ordered your bulbs and are getting ready to plant them soon. It’s still a bit too warm here but in a few weeks it’ll be perfect.

Bulbs 102: A+

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