There's something wonderfully optimistic about planting bulbs. You tuck a handful of papery brown lumps into cool autumn soil, forget about them all winter, and then one spring morning they burst up as tulips, daffodils and hyacinths. The trick is timing: October is the sweet spot for most spring bloomers, and the real deadline is simply getting them in before the ground freezes solid.
Success starts at the garden center. Give each bulb a gentle squeeze before it goes in your bag. You want ones that feel firm and heavy for their size, a bit like a good onion. Skip anything soft, shriveled or showing patches of mold, because those are unlikely to wake up in spring no matter how much care you give them.
The Planting Routine
- Pick a sunny spot where water drains away quickly after rain.
- Dig about three times as deep as the bulb is tall.
- Set each bulb pointy end up, roots facing down.
- Plant in loose clusters rather than tidy rows, leaving a little space between bulbs.
- Backfill, press the soil down firmly and give everything a thorough soak.
A bulb planter, the tube-shaped tool that pulls out a neat plug of earth, makes quick work of the digging if you're planting dozens. And don't stress about perfection: grouping bulbs in casual drifts looks far more natural than soldier-straight lines. That generous watering at the end matters, too, because it nudges the roots to start growing before winter settles in.
Source: Gardenista
