How to Plant Fall Bulbs (Start to Finish) | Tulips, Daffodils, Crocus and More, by Gardening With Gloria on YouTube. 4 min 47 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 47 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Pick bulbs that feel firm and heavy for their size. Skip any that are soft, mouldy or shrivelled, and choose the largest bulbs you can find for stronger flowers.
Check your local first frost date. Plant when soil has cooled but before it freezes, usually September to November depending on your region.
Set each bulb with the pointed tip facing up and the flat root plate down. If you cannot tell, plant it on its side and it will right itself.
Dig a hole about three times the bulb's height deep. A large tulip bulb goes roughly 15 cm down, smaller crocus about 8 cm.
Loosen the soil at the bottom and mix in compost so it drains well. Bulbs rot in soggy ground, so add grit to heavy clay.
Space bulbs about two to three times their width apart, then backfill and firm the soil gently. Water well after planting.
Lay chicken wire just under the soil surface or place a mesh cover over the bed to stop squirrels digging.
For a pot, layer bulbs lasagna style: largest deepest, smaller ones above, all in one container for a longer display.
Water after planting and keep the ground moist but not soaked through winter. Let foliage die back naturally in spring before cutting it.
Tips and common mistakes
Plant bulbs pointed end up; planted upside down they waste energy and flower late or not at all.
Do not add fresh manure to the planting hole, as it can burn the bulbs.
Mark where you planted so you do not dig them up by mistake later.
In pots, make sure there are drainage holes so bulbs do not sit in water.
Questions
When should I plant tulip bulbs?
Plant tulips in autumn once the soil has cooled, usually October to November in most regions. Check your local frost dates, since timing varies by area.
How deep do I plant daffodils and crocus?
Use the rule of three times the bulb's height. Daffodils go about 15 cm deep, crocus about 8 cm, and tulips around 15 cm.
How do I stop squirrels digging up my bulbs?
Cover the bed with chicken wire just below the soil surface, or lay mesh over the top. Squirrels dig by smell, so a barrier works better than repellents.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
