Learning how to plant flower bulbs is the first step towards having a beautiful garden dappled with all the colors of the rainbow. Through a lot of hard work, I’ve managed to turn my brown thumb into a green one, and now it’s time to pass along some of what I’ve learned. These tips are intended for the beginning gardener, but old pros may also find a few tidbits worth incorporating into their schedule.
One last point before we get started: If you live in a cold climate, you’ll want to dig up bulbs before sub-zero temperatures hit and store them for later use. Otherwise, you’ll need to buy new flower bulbs every spring.
Tips for Planting Flower Bulbs
When selecting bulbs to purchase, try to get the largest ones possible. The larger the bulb, the larger the flower. If you need to store them beforehand, choose a cool, dark place. If you place them in one of the compartments of your refrigerator, make sure to keep them away from fruit that’s ripening (they can kill bulbs).
Pick a spot in your yard that gets plenty of sun and doesn’t hold pools of water. It’s best to plant bulbs in bunches, and I recommend anywhere from six to twelve bulbs for a small garden. Larger gardens, meanwhile, can accommodate as many as 24.
How to Plant Flower Bulbs
If the bulbs are small, try planting them from four to six inches below the ground. For larger bulbs, a greater depth of eight to twelve inches is suggested. Make sure to allow several inches between bulbs for larger flowers, while smaller ones can be as close as one inch apart.
Mix the soil with compost or cow manure, and cover up the bulb. Be sure to water the area, and I suggest you add several inches of mulch once the ground has had time to soak up the moisture.
After You’ve Planted Your Bulbs
Now that your flower bulbs have been put into the ground, you’ll want to guard them against pesky rodents such as squirrels (this is especially true if you’re planting tulip bulbs). Making sure the soil is firmly packed and bulb plantings are removed may be enough to keep the critters away. If you want to be extra cautious, however, you can either choose to buy a dog or cover the bulb area with chicken wire.
Now that you know how to plant flower bulbs, expect your yard to experience an explosion of color. I’m partial to roses, myself, but the steps listed above can apply to everything from lilies to petunias. And here’s the most important advice of all: Get out in your garden and plant something, even if you’re not entirely sure what you’re doing.
Violet Van Cleef writes for DeliverRoses.org. Many of her articles focus on florist education and training.
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