Of all the garden flowers, bulbs are probably the most magical: As we fall deeper into winter doldrums, they wait quietly unnoticed and dormant beneath the soil for months. Then just when we’re desperately ready for (and in need of) a great garden pick-me-up, they seemingly explode into a blast of color that brings back life to our yards, adding curb appeal to our homes and signaling the start of an exciting new growing season.

Daffodils along pathway
The warmth you feel on a springtime day is a perfect complement to the deep yellow of ‘King Alfred’ daffodils and the welcome you can expect at an entry door.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Colorful tulips by tree
The bulbs you plant in fall can bring magical results come spring.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/Donna Krischan

If you’ve never planted a bulb before, be careful: It’s easy to get hooked – and even easier to get planting. (What other garden beauty lets you just drop it the ground, cover it up and then leave it alone for months?) In fact, the hardest part about planting bulbs is waiting for the bloomin’ show to start!

As easy as bulb planting is, there are still a few important points to know. For starters, you have to plant in fall to get that glorious color come spring (and beyond). Yes, it may seem odd to spend time digging in the garden in autumn, only to walk away from a planting bed that barely looks touched when your work is finished. But once the warmer weather returns, you’ll be greatly rewarded. Depending on where you live (and provided the ground isn’t frozen), bulbs can be planted as early as mid-August and as late as January. (See the regional map below for suggested times on when to plant bulbs in your area. Keep in mind that bulbs planted in the fall are spring or early summer blooming plants. There are also late summer and fall blooming bulbs that are normally planted in the spring. Always check the label on any bags of bulbs you purchase for further information - or ask someone at your local nursery or garden center.)


Fall Bulb Planting Map

Fall Bulb Planting Map
The Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center has provided a bulb planting guide according to region:
  1. New England – USDA hardiness zones 3-5. Optimum planting time: Sept. 15-Nov. 15
  2. Mid-Atlantic – USDA hardiness zones 6-8. Optimum planting time: Oct. 1-Nov. 30
  3. Appalachia – USDA hardiness zones 5 and 6. Optimum planting time: Sept. 15-Nov. 30
  4. South Atlantic Coast – USDA hardiness zones 7 and 8. Optimum planting time: Oct. 15-Dec. 15
  5. Great Lakes – USDA hardiness zones 5-7. Optimum planting time: Sept. 15-Nov. 15
  6. East Central – USDA hardiness zones 5-7. Optimum planting time: Oct. 1-Nov. 30
  7. South Central – USDA hardiness zones 7 and 8. Optimum planting time: Oct. 15-Dec. 15
  8. Tropical – USDA hardiness Zone 10. Optimum planting time: Dec. 1-Jan. 15
  9. Gulf Coast – USDA hardiness zones 8 and 9. Optimum planting time: Oct. 1-Dec. 31
  10. North Central – USDA hardiness zones 3-5. Optimum planting time: Sept. 15-Nov. 1
  11. Central Great Plains – USDA hardiness zones 5 and 6. Optimum planting time: Sept. 30-Nov. 30
  12. Rocky Mountains – USDA hardiness zones 2-4. Optimum planting time: Sept. 15-Nov. 1
  13. Arid West – USDA hardiness zones 5-7. Optimum planting time: Sept. 30-Nov. 30
  14. North Pacific Coast – USDA hardiness Zone 8. Optimum planting time: Oct. 1-Nov. 30
  15. South Pacific Coast – USDA hardiness zones 9 and 10. Optimum planting time: Aug. 15-Dec. 15 (baboon flower, flame freesia, freesia, bearded iris, corn lily, ornamental onion, squill, wandflower, wood sorrel); Aug. 15-Jan. 31 (bluebell, Persian buttercup [ranunculus], daffodil, grape hyacinth, Dutch iris, lily, windflower)
  16. Alaska – USDA hardiness zones 1-7. Optimum planting time: Sept. 15-Oct. 15
Photo Credit: The Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center

Another point to keep in mind is even though your bulbs go in the ground in autumn, it doesn’t mean that they’ll all pop up at the same time come spring. Just like other flowering plants, different bulbs bloom at different times. It all depends on what you grow:

Spring-blooming bulbs are mostly native to areas with hot, dry summers and cool or cold, wet winters. Nearly dormant in summer, they sprout roots and buds in winter, developing foliage and flowers come spring. They include daffodils, crocus, hyacinths, irises, ornamental onions and tulips (among others).

Most summer-blooming bulbs originate in regions with climates of warm, rainy summers and cool, dry winters. Near-dormant in winter, they become active in spring and flower in midsummer. Dahlia, daylily, gladiolus and lily are popular choices.

Autumn bulbs are adapted to climates with hot, dry summers; moist autumns; and mild to cool, dry winters. Examples include Cartwright’s fall crocus, meadow saffron and sternbergia.

There are also evergreen bulbs, many of which grow in areas with intermittent rains and mild temperatures; others are found in tropical locales with occasional dry periods. They retain year-round foliage and bloom when moisture is abundant. Amaryllis, tuberous begonia and African lily are just some examples.

Most bulbs are planted individually, and that’s the right approach for planting small areas (or for as many as 30 bulbs). Planting single bulbs is particularly ideal when you want to create sinuous drifts in a naturalized garden or for making bulb accents in your borders. When it comes to planting individual bulbs the process is fairly simple. Just take the steps in the following pictures and described in their captions.