How to plant spring bulbs in fall: a simple guide for US and UK gardens

Few garden jobs give as much reward for so little effort as planting spring bulbs. Each bulb is a ready-made flower packed with food. All you have to do is put it in the ground at the right time and depth, and wait for spring.

When to plant

Spring bulbs need a period of cold to flower, so they are planted in fall:

• Daffodils, crocus, snowdrops and alliums: September to October, while the soil is still warm enough for roots to grow.
• Tulips: October to November, once the soil has cooled to below about 10 °C (50 °F). Late planting reduces the risk of tulip fire, a fungal disease.
• USDA zones 3–5: plant as soon as bulbs are available, at least six weeks before the ground freezes.
• USDA zones 9–10: most bulbs need extra chilling. Store tulips and hyacinths in the refrigerator (away from fruit) for 8–12 weeks before planting in December or January, or choose warm-climate bulbs such as freesias and anemones.

How deep to plant

The simple rule is to plant a bulb two to three times as deep as it is tall, with the pointed end up. If you cannot tell which way is up, plant it on its side and it will sort itself out.

Bulb	Planting depth	Spacing
Daffodils	15 cm (6 in)	10–15 cm (4–6 in)
Tulips	15–20 cm (6–8 in)	10 cm (4 in)
Hyacinths	10–15 cm (4–6 in)	15 cm (6 in)
Alliums	15–20 cm (6–8 in)	20–30 cm (8–12 in)
Crocus	8 cm (3 in)	5–8 cm (2–3 in)
Snowdrops	8 cm (3 in)	5–8 cm (2–3 in)

The best bulbs for beginners

• Daffodils are the most reliable bulb of all. They come back for decades, spread into bigger clumps and are ignored by deer and squirrels.
• Tulips give the boldest colors. Many hybrids fade after a year or two, so treat them as annuals in pots, or choose species and Darwin types for perennial displays.
• Crocus open in late winter and are an early meal for bees. Plant them in lawns for a natural look.
• Snowdrops flower in the depths of winter. They establish best when planted "in the green" in spring, but dry bulbs planted early in fall work too.
• Ornamental alliums carry purple globes in early summer, bridging the gap between spring bulbs and summer perennials. Bees love them.
• Hyacinths are wonderfully fragrant in pots near a door or window.

Planting step by step

1. Choose a spot in sun or light shade with soil that drains well. Bulbs rot in waterlogged ground.
2. Loosen the soil and add a little compost. On heavy clay, add a handful of grit to the bottom of each hole.
3. Plant in groups of at least 5–7 bulbs, or in drifts of 20 or more, rather than single rows. It looks far more natural.
4. Cover, firm the soil gently and water once if the ground is dry.

Bulbs in pots: the "lasagna" method

For a long display in one container, plant in layers: tulips at the bottom, daffodils in the middle and crocus or grape hyacinths on top. Each layer flowers in turn from late winter to late spring. Use a deep pot with drainage holes and gritty compost, and raise it onto pot feet over winter.

Keeping squirrels away

Squirrels love freshly dug tulip and crocus bulbs. Lay chicken wire or hardware cloth over newly planted areas and remove it in late winter, or stick to daffodils and alliums, which they leave alone.

After flowering

Remove faded flower heads, but let the leaves die back naturally for six weeks. They feed the bulb for next year. Feed with a high-potassium fertilizer after flowering for bigger blooms next spring.

For more jobs this season, check the seasonal gardening calendar for your climate zone.