How to Plant Bulbs During the Fall

If you are new to gardening, or have not had very good luck in the past with your garden, then you have come to the right place! I’m sure you know how disappointing it can be once spring arrives and the bulbs you planted in the fall do not pop through the ground, producing the beautiful flowers you expected to see. So we have put together a few tips for planting and selecting bulbs during the fall!

Tips for Selecting Fall Bulbs

The type of fall bulbs you chose depend on the type of flowers you like and want in your yard. It’s not difficult to pick bulbs, or even know which ones are for fall planting because you will see them everywhere you shop—department stores, nurseries, grocery stores, garden centers, and even some hardware stores.

Therefore, what type of bulb to plant is essentially already taken care of, because all the bulbs you see will likely be fall bulbs. Now, not all bulbs are created equally, which is why we put together a list of a few of our favorites that you should try out:

  • Burpee
  • Park Seed
  • Brecks

While there are several more brands that are just as good, these three seem to be the most popular and produce the best flowers in the spring. Just like anything else, if you purchase a low-quality bulb, you will get a low-quality flower, or in some cases, no flowers at all.

When to Plant Fall Bulbs

Now, that you have your bulbs it’s time to prepare your lawn and plant them. Depending on where you live (climate), will depend on when you should plant your bulbs.

When living in the east coast, frost is rare, and snow is even rarer, you should plant your bulbs in the early part of November. Also, note that if you live in a place where the temperatures rarely drop below 60 degrees you can plant your fall bulbs in the late winter or early spring.

For those of you who live in the much colder climates, the best time to plant your bulbs is in late October or early November, or before a hard freeze.

How to Plant Fall Bulbs

First, you have to prepare your lawn. You want to pick a site on your lawn where the soil is well drained and there is a lot of sunlight. Add a little compost mixture to your soil. Your bulbs should be planted at a depth of three times the size (width) of the bulb. Be sure to plant lots of bulbs in case some do not grow.

After planting, add some fertilizer, water well, and place mulch on top of the area to help keep the moisture in, and in the spring you should have a beautiful flower garden.

Happy fall bulb planting! Did you know? We offer Snow Plowing & De-Icing services! Be sure to contact us this winter for more information.