7 Tips for Planting Fall Bulbs

The arrival of fall means it is time to plant those fall bulbs! Planting your fall bulbs now will ensure you colorful blooms come spring. Planting your fall bulbs correctly can have you enjoy better success come spring, but what exactly does “planting them correctly” mean? Take a look below at these 7 Tips for Planting Fall Bulbs so you can be sure your fall bulbs come back thriving!

7 Tips for Planting Fall Bulbs

1. Pointy ends always go UP.
When planting your bulbs, you want to be sure the pointy end is facing up towards the sky. This is where the bloom will begin and the plant can find its way to the top of the surface faster and easier if the pointy end is facing the correct direction.

2. Be sure you dig deep enough.
It is advised that you plant fall bulbs at least 8 inches deep. Planting them in a space that is anything less could pose dangers to the bulb. Animals may be able to dig them up or they may not be secure enough under the soil to harden off. For smaller bulb varieties, you can opt to plant them 6 inches deep. As far as width for either type of bulb, 4-6 inches seems to be sufficient.

3. Never fertilize bulbs.
Be sure you never add fertilizer to the bulbs. In their first year, they have plenty of food stored in them to use. If you add fertilizer, the chemicals can actually burn the bulb and kill it. There is no need to fertilize bulbs until the second year of growth.

4. Don’t be afraid to bunch your bulbs.
You can plant bulbs in clusters without an issues. This way, they will grow in a powerful pop. Don’t worry about overcrowding, as your stronger bulbs will bloom and put on a nice show. You can even mix various types of bulbs together.

5. Keep them dry.
Bulbs should always be kept dry and cool when being stored and when planted. They don’t like wet or swampy soil, so always plant bulbs in well draining soil. Anything wet could lead to rot or poor growth. Soil should also be loose and not compacted, giving the bulbs room to stretch and grow.

6. Use the six week rule.
You want to be sure you plant bulbs six weeks before the first frost or freeze of the season. Keep an eye on the weather so you can decide when the best time is to plant your fall bulbs. Once the ground freezes or there is frost, you have missed the chance.

Correctly planting your fall bulbs now can help you enjoy a colorful show later. Give these tips a try and see what gorgeous results you can achieve.