As summer fades and autumn leaves begin to fall, it’s the best time to dream a little about next spring’s flowering extravaganza. One dream-worthy project is planting bulbs or corms in September or October, depending on your area’s hardiness zone.
Yellow tulips at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, Reno.
Planning
Dreaming of next year’s flower colors is one of my favorite garden activities. You can envision your yard with such colors as brilliant yellows, tangy oranges, royal purples, and Mediterranean blues. They can be planted in containers as well as in the ground – even under a large shade tree, as bulbs and corms bloom before most leaves on trees appear.
So, consider what works for your yard. A half-wine barrel near the mailbox? A hedge of yellow daffodils near the sidewalk? A mass of tulips along the walkway to your front door? Grape hyacinths in a variety of purples in front of your living room or kitchen window?
You need only decide where to plant the bulbs, what to plant them in, and how many to plant. And if this is your first dabble in spring’s colorful bulbs, no worries! Start in one or two noteworthy places in your yard and save dreaming of your yard looking like spring in Holland for another year.
Early daffodil and crocus blooms, Stead, NV.
Selection
Think about the colors you love and what bulbs come in those colors. Daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, crocus, winter aconite, scilla, and snowdrops are just a few bulbs to research and sleep on. Bulbs are generally priced according to size, and the bigger the bulb, the bigger the bloom. The adage about getting what you pay for applies. A better-quality bulb is worth the cost. Select firm, unblemished bulbs that feel heavy for their size. Shop at reputable nurseries, local or online, in late summer or early fall.
Snowbells, Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, Reno.
Planting
Early shopping means a better selection from nurseries. Many bulbs are planted in late September through October to allow roots to become established before freezing weather. But some bulbs, like tulips, do best when planted in November.
Most bulbs do best in well-draining soils. If your soil does not drain well, you’ll need to amend it so it does. In addition, fertilizer should be mixed into the bulb’s root zone. A commercial bulb fertilizer might be easier if you are a bulb novice.
Follow the specific instructions provided on the package, but most bulbs should be planted growing tip up and at a depth three times their height (tip to bottom). To encourage root growth, loosen the soil under and around where the bulbs are planted, and top the bed with mulch to help retain moisture and maintain soil temperature.
Sketch illustrating growing tip and soil depth.
Planting several bulbs of the same color close to each other, but not touching, gives the best burst of color. Depending on the size of the bulb, groups of 10 or more look best. You can also imagine groups of single-color blooms planted throughout your yard.
For container planting, an especially attractive project is “lasagna” bulb planting. Start with a large container and cover the bottom with several inches of potting soil, enough to accommodate roots. Plant the largest bulbs and then cover them with another layer of soil. Medium-sized bulbs are arranged in the middle, and smaller bulbs are planted toward the top, each layer covered with additional soil.
If you choose a variety of bulbs that have different flowering times (like crocus, squill, hyacinth, daffodil, and tulips), the lasagna bulb planter can continue to flower throughout spring. When the show is finished, water the container well and mulch it to await a repeat performance the following spring.
Sketch illustrating lasagna bulb container.
Ongoing Care
Because most bulbs flower, bloom, and die within a few weeks, ongoing care is simple: adequate water, well-draining soil, and sunlight. A dose of fertilizer before the blooms wither, while the foliage is still green, will help nourish the bulb and enhance its performance next year. Don’t remove the leaves until they are dry, but you can plant annuals in the bulb bed to hide the drying bulb foliage, and enjoy those as you start dreaming of your next colorful spring.
After the blooms have faded
If this is your first year of experimenting with bulb planting, you get a late—summer break! First-year bulb beds are usually not dug up. When the first year’s show is finished, water the container well and mulch it to await a repeat performance the following spring.
Second-year beds are dug up in late August to divide the bulbs, which will have multiplied. Separate the bulbs after they dry, and store the largest, healthier bulbs in a paper bag in a cool, dry place for replanting in the fall. Again, big bulb, big bloom. It’s best to save the larger bulbs and purchase new bulbs to replace the smaller ones. Some bulbs, like hyacinths, do not multiply readily, but can rebloom in the same spot for several years.
Daffodil and crocus bulbs dug up
after the second year, to dry and be replanted.
Resources:
- “Planting over tulips and when to fertilize tulips,” Elizabeth C. Miller Library, University of Washington, 2024
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“Planting bulbs, tubers, and rhizomes,” Meyer, Mary H., University of Minnesota Extension, 2024 https://extension.umn.edu/how/planting-bulbs-tubers-and-rhizomes#soil-preparation-1410662
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“Fall-Planted Bulbs and Corms,” Newman, S.E. Colorado State University, 2009.
- Planting Bulbs, Lasagna Style,” Sandborn, Dixie, Michigan State University Extension, 2020.
