How to Plant and Care for Bulbs

Bulbs bloom throughout the spring, summer, and even into fall, filling gardens with bright, colorful intrigue. The word bulb is an all-inclusive term that refers to a variety of underground structures, like true bulbs, tubers, and rhizomes. No matter the type, a bulb is a short stem with fleshy leaves that operates as a food-storage organ during dormancy. When growing bulbs, keep these tips in mind to create a beautiful show in your garden.

How to Identify Quality Bulbs

Purchasing high-quality bulbs is the first step to ensuring the plants thrive in your landscape. "A high-quality bulb will be firm to the touch and relatively heavy for its size," says PeggyAnne Montgomery, horticulturist and bulb expert for Flowerbulbs.com. "Any shriveled or mushy bulbs are bad and should not be planted." Also, look at the size of the bulbs—the larger they are, the more potential the bulbs have to produce more and better-quality flowers. A small bit of mold on bulbs is perfectly normal for tulips, lilies, and bulbs, says Montgomery.

When to Plant Bulbs

There are only two times to plant flowering bulbs: in the fall and spring. "Spring flowering bulbs are planted in the fall. Summer flowering bulbs are planted in the spring," says Montgomery. When planting in the fall, be sure to do so before the ground freezes. This gives the bulbs time to put down roots before winter. If you're planting in spring, do so once the danger of frost has passed. What zone you're living in may also dictate when you should plant bulbs.

How to Plant Bulbs

Follow these tips when planting bulbs in your garden.

Prepare the Soil

Before putting bulbs in the ground, remove any weeds or grass from the area. "If the soil you are planting in is very compacted, it’s a good idea to loosen the soil with a fork or spade—about 10 to 12 inches deep," says Montgomery. "This helps to create space for air. Plants need to extract oxygen as well as water and nutrients from the soil." Now is also a good time to add compost or shredded leaves to the soil, which helps lighten heavy soil, feed soil microbes, and provide essential plant nutrients.

Plant Your Bulbs

While the easiest method for planting bulbs is with a bulb auger attached to a cordless drill, digging by hand works perfectly well. A good rule of thumb is to plant bulbs two to three times as deep as they are tall. "If bulbs are planted too deep, they will bloom late or not at all," says Amy Enfield, a horticulturist for Miracle-Gro. "If they aren't planted deep enough, they may sprout too soon and can be damaged by cold temperatures."

Place the bulbs in the planting holes with the pointy end up and the root side down. Add a little organic bulb fertilizer to the planting hole and cover it with soil. "Mulch the area you planted in and water thoroughly," says Montgomery.

How to Grow Bulbs in Containers

Bulbs can also be grown in containers. It's best to do so in larger pots because there is more soil to insulate the bulbs. "If it doesn’t freeze much in your area, you can get away with putting them in a sheltered spot outside covered with a pile of leaves," says Montgomery. "You can also try putting them in an unheated garage if they won’t freeze solid."

Give containers added intrigue by planting bulbs in layers. Plant the biggest bulbs at the bottom of the container, adding a layer of soil and planting the next level. "For instance—from the bottom up—tulips, daffodils, muscari, crocus, snowdrops," says Montgomery. "That way, the container has something blooming for many weeks."

How to Care for Bulbs

Knowing how to care for bulbs will ensure an abundant display come growing season.

Sun

Bulbs typically need at least six hours of direct sun per day. "Remember that in springtime, deciduous trees and shrubs don’t have their leaves yet, and the early flowering bulbs may get more sun than the same area does in the summer," says Montgomery.

Water

Water the planting area thoroughly after planting. "Keep the soil moist but not overly saturated until the ground freezes," says Enfield. During fall, normal rainfall is typically enough for bulbs after their initial watering, but if you're having a dry spell, additional watering may be necessary, says Montgomery. "For spring-planted, summer-flowering bulbs, strive for about 1 inch a week," she says.

Soil

Like most plants, bulbs prefer well-drained soil rich in organic matter, says Montgomery. You can also amend the soil with compost if it's lacking nutrients.

Mulch

Unless you planted bulbs in the lawn or in a rock garden, adding mulch is beneficial. "Mulch helps keep the bulb uniformly cold," says Montgomery. It also helps slow weed growth by cutting off the light they need.

How to Arrange Bulbs

Bulbs are best planted in large drifts. "The more you plant together the better they show up and make a real impression in the landscape," says Montgomery. "More is definitely better and it’s ok to plant them pretty close together—when I plant bulb lawns I plant them just a few inches apart." Planting in large drifts will also give your landscape a more natural appearance and will attract more pollinators.

How to Keep Rodents Away From Bulbs

One downside of bulbs is that they sometimes attract unwanted animals. "Squirrels tend to dig in any disturbed soil (the soil you just disturbed to plant the bulbs) and can dig the bulbs out of the ground even if they don’t eat them," says Montgomery. To prevent this from happening, cover the area with chicken wire and stake it down. "There are small wire cages you can buy to put the bulbs in when you plant them or make your own with inexpensive chicken wire." Additionally, you can cover bulbs with gravel or crushed rock or buy repellents to keep garden pests away.

How to Overwinter Bulbs

Some bulbs or tubers like dahlias, begonias, cannas, and some gladiolus are not hardy in most parts of the country and need to be dug up and stored indoors for winter, says Montgomery. "The advantage is you get more and bigger bulbs (tubers) in return and save a little money. One dahlia tuber could be divided into two or three plants," she says.

1. Cut the stem off a few inches above the ground.
2. Use a shovel or pitchfork to carefully loosen the soil and lift the tuber. (They will be much bigger than what you planted.)
3. Shake off all of the soil, then gently rinse off the tubers.
4. Examine the tubers and cut out any rotten parts.
5. Let the tubers dry in an area with good air circulation and low light.
6. Place the tubers in plastic crates, cardboard boxes, or paper bags. Store them in a dark, well-ventilated area where they won't freeze.
7. Check on them during the winter and remove any tubers that are rotting.