Looking for ways to get early spring color in the garden? Learn how to plant bulbs in the fall with these simple tips to grow a beautiful spring garden.

After a long, cold winter there is nothing quite like seeing early spring blooms emerge from the ground.

It’s exciting to see them start to grow. And even better to watch them bloom.

They bring great joy after a long cold winter.

Without planting bulbs, the garden will stay dull and dreary until spring nursery stock is available.

If you want a garden that’s always and bloom, plant bulbs in the fall to get early spring color.

There are lots of beautiful spring flowering bulbs to choose from too.

And today, I’m going to show you how to plant bulbs in the fall for an unforgettable display of spring garden flowers.

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How Deep Should I Plant Bulbs in the Fall?

In general, plant bulbs 3x the size of the bulb.

So larger bulbs will get planted roughly 6-8″ deep. While smaller bulbs will be planted around 4-5″ deep.

While these figures are a general guide, always consult the plant tag that the bulbs arrived in. The grower knows best how to plant and grow their bulbs.

So follow the grower’s recommendations for planting and care.

Should I Soak Fall Bulbs Before Planting?

No, it is not necessary to soak fall bulbs before planting the outside.

There is a notion to pre-soak roots located at the base of the bulb before planting. However, it is not needed when planting outdoors because there should be sufficient soil moisture in the ground.

Simply open the bag they arrive in and start planting!

Close up of daffodils in a garden that - I cut some for afor a centerpiece idea

Do You Water Bulbs After Planting in Fall?

Yes, it is a good idea to water the bulbs well after planting them in fall to give them a good start in the garden.

What Kind of Bulbs Can Be Planted in Fall?

There are lots of great options of bulbs that can be planted in fall for beautiful spring garden flowers.

Here are a few that I enjoy growing.

Tulips
Daffodils
Crocus
Hyacinths
Grape Hyacinths
Fritillaria
Alliums
Anemones

daffodils and double flowering tulips blooms in the spring garden

What Happens If You Plant a Bulb Upside Down?

While it will still grow, planting it upside down will stress out the plant. And because it gets stressed, could die.

And we don’t want that!

So the best way to know whether you are planting a bulb correctly is to look for the roots which is usually found at the wide base. And the pointed tip should be upright.

How to Plant Bulbs in the Fall for an Unforgettable Spring Garden

Although the gardening season is coming to a close, now is a great time to plant bulbs for beautiful spring flowers.

Spring-flowering bulbs need to be planted in fall so they have time to develop a good root system before winter.

It is best to wait until soil temps are below 60 degrees F before planting. So depending on where you live, the best time to plant is generally in mid-September or October.

I live in hardiness zone 6a, so I typically wait until the end of October to plant when temps are more consistently cool.

Bag of narcissus bulbs to be planted for spring flowers -How to Plant Bulbs in Fall

Supplies Needed

The best part of about planting bulbs in the fall is shopping for it of course.

While you can pick up spring flowering bulbs to plant in fall from a local nursery or big box store, you can find lots of different varieties online from other growers.

But the trick is, you’ll be shopping for them in the winter. So get on the grower’s email list so you know as soon as they go on sale.

Here are some of my favorites.

And here’s a list of supplies that you need to plant bulbs in the fall.

Shovel or hand trowel
Bulbs
Bulb Fertilizer
Garden Soil
Organic Matter like Peat Moss

Bag of Daffodil Bulbs to plant for spring garden flowers -How to Plant Bulbs in Fall

Directions For Planting Bulbs in the Fall

When shopping, look for bulbs that are large, firm, and have good color.
Choose a site in your yard that has good drainage and receives at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.
Before planting bulbs, place them in the garden to plan their design.
Dig holes to the recommended depth. I prefer to dig larger holes and plant in groupings of odd numbers than to dig individual holes for each bulb. Planting 100s of bulbs goes much faster this way too!
Plant bulbs upright with the pointed ends up and root side down at the recommended depth (see plant tag for how deep to plant bulbs). But as a general rule, plant bulbs three times as deep as the bulb’s greatest dimension.
Before backfilling the hole, add organic matter like peat moss to add drainage and help enrich the soil.
Mix in a special bulb fertilizer. Avoid using bone meal if rodents, skunks, or other small mammals are an issue. Bone meal attracts them.
Backfill the holes.

Because deer tend to leave daffodils alone, I’m planting 100s of them this fall! And this year, I am choosing a few different varieties to enjoy in my spring garden.

The pointed end is the top of the bulb -How to Plant Bulbs in Fall

This is the top part of a daffodil bulb where the flower grows.

Keep this end up when planting.

Because that is where the flower will emerge.

This is the bottom of the bulbs where the roots grow.

Place this end down when planting.

Always plant bulbs with the root side down -How to Plant Bulbs in Fall

Daffodil bulbs ready to be planted in fall -How to Plant Bulbs in Fall

Place bulbs where you want to plant them to get an idea of how it will look.

You can plant them in individual holes or group tothem gether.

I prefer groupings because it is more aesthetically pleasing to the eye when they flower.

Digging a hole to plant bulbs in the fall -How to Plant Bulbs in Fall

Read the plant label before planting.

Dig the hole according to the label’s directions.

Plant bulbs, fertilize, and then backfill. I also like to backfill with some fresh garden soil and soil amendments like peat moss that help with drainage.

When plants emerge in spring, fertilize lightly with bulb fertilizer at least two inches from the plant.

Placing bulbs in the hole before backfilling with garden soil and peat moss -How to Plant Bulbs in Fall

Spring-Flowering Bulb Tip: When the flower petals fade, remove the flower parts and stem before the plant goes to seed.

Don’t cut leaves back until they turn yellow though. This allows the bulb to store more energy for next year’s flower production.

Design Tip: Bulb foliage that is dying back can be hidden by planting bulbs in between perennials and annuals.

The benefit of planting bulbs this way will provide color while perennials emerge and are camouflaged by perennials while they die back.

tulips and daffodils in a spring garden - how to plant bulbs in the fall

Some of My Favorite Spring-Flowering Bulbs

Shop for Spring-Flowering Bulbs

close up of allium globemaster in the garden -Top 5 Spring Garden Supplies

Tip to Protect Tulips and Other Early Spring Flowers from Deer Damage

While most of the above list is deer resistant, deer LOVE to eat tulips.

We get herds of deer in my yard every year, all season long and they will decimate my tulips if I don’t protect them.

I protect them using this deer spray repellent. It is very effective if you are aggressive with the application.

As soon as bulbs emerge, spray it heavily with repellent.
When the bulbs grow a few inches from the ground, douse it again with repellent.
Apply repellent again when the tulip heads form.
When the tulip starts to bloom, douse them again.

And while we are on the subject of tulips, this is my favorite tulip. I’m purchasing them this year to plant in my garden – I love how colorful they are!

Click here for more tips to deter deer from eating your garden plants and flowers .

And after all that hard work, your spring garden flowers lack or fail to bloom, click here to troubleshoot the cause and how to fix it. i