Learn how to plant daffodil bulbs for a stunning spring garden! This easy-to-follow guide covers everything from purchasing bulbs and soil prep to post-planting care.
Daffodils are a cheerful sign of spring, and planting them is a great way to add some color to your garden. Here in my gardens, I LOVE them! Every spring, thousands of these cheerful blooms emerge, painting the landscape with vibrant yellows, whites, and sometimes even pretty peaches.
It’s a sight that winter is over and a new season of blooms has arrived. The best part? Daffodils are incredibly easy to grow – even for beginner gardeners – and they’re practically deer-proof! Plus, their long stems and beautiful colors make them a stunning addition to any bouquet.
If you’re looking for an easy win in the garden that delivers a spectacular spring show, you’ll want to plant daffodils this fall.
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Bulb Buying Basics: Selecting the Best Daffodils
Before you start digging, you’ll need to get your hands on some high-quality daffodil bulbs. It is important to carefully select your bulbs so you set the stage for an amazing garden filled with daffodil flowers. Here’s what to look for when making your selection.
- Firmness: Give the bulbs a gentle squeeze. They should feel firm and solid, not soft or mushy.
- Size: Larger bulbs generally produce bigger and more impressive blooms.
- Dryness: Avoid bulbs that show signs of mold or excessive moisture.
- Variety: Explore the wonderful world of daffodils! There’s a huge variety of colors, shapes, and sizes to choose from.
Where to Buy
- Local nurseries: Support local businesses and get expert advice.
- Online retailers: Browse a wider selection and compare prices.
- Garden centers: Often have a good selection, especially in the fall.
Because I like to buy different varieties, I prefer to purchase my daffodils online. I usually order from White Flower Farm and Longfield Gardens.

When to Plant Daffodil Bulbs
The best time to plant daffodils is in the fall, after the summer heat has subsided but before the ground freezes. Aim for a soil temperature of around 60°F (15°C). In colder climates (zones 3-7), plant bulbs 6-8 weeks before the ground freezes. In warmer climates (zones 8-10), plant in late fall or early winter. I’m in zone 6b and usually get mine in the ground in late October/early November.
Can You Plant Daffodils in the Spring?
While fall reigns supreme for daffodil planting, you might be curious about the possibilities of a spring planting. Here’s the lowdown:
Most experts, including those at university extension offices, strongly advise planting daffodils in the fall. This timing allows the bulbs to establish a robust root system before the chill of winter sets in, leading to a more vibrant spring display.
However, spring planting isn’t entirely out of the question. If you happen upon pre-chilled bulbs or potted daffodils already in bloom at your local garden center, you can give spring planting a shot. Just remember that these bulbs might surprise you with fewer or delayed blooms in their first year.
For a garden bursting with cheerful color come spring, fall planting remains the gold standard. But if you’re feeling adventurous or stumble upon some ready-to-bloom bulbs, a spring planting could be a fun experiment!
I have planted potted daffodils with success outdoors that I was given as gifts and they return the following spring. But I wouldn’t intentionally wait to plant them in the spring. Plus, when you buy daffodils already in bloom like that and plant them in spring, it is much more expensive. So it is best to wait, purchase bulbs in bulk, and plant daffodils in the fall.
Choosing a Location
- Sunlight: Daffodils thrive in full sun to partial shade. Choose a spot that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.
- Soil: Well-drained soil is essential. Avoid areas where water tends to pool after rain.
- Spacing: Space bulbs 4-6 inches apart and 3 times as deep as the bulb’s height.

How to Plant Daffodil Bulbs
What You Need
- Shovel or hand trowel. Bulb augers drill bits work great too!
- Daffodil Bulbs
- Bulb fertilizer
- Garden soil
- Organic matter (peat moss or compost)
For years, I used a bulb planter and I’m not a fan of using them unless your soil is really pliable. They are great for showing you the measurements for planting depth. But I prefer to use something more substantial in the beds where my soil is rocky and tough to dig in.
The last few years, I have been using bulb auger drill bits that you can literally attach to your own drill. Planting multiple daffodil bulbs are a breeze!!!! And I use it in a range of soil types. You’ll thank me later for this one.

Directions for Planting Daffodil Bulbs
- Choose a location: Select a sunny spot in your yard that has good drainage and receives at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.
- Prepare the soil: Loosen the soil and add organic matter to improve drainage and fertility. Before planting daffodil bulbs, place them in the garden to plan their design.
- How Deep to Plant Daffodils: A general rule is to plant them three times as deep as the bulb’s height. Larger daffodil bulbs tend to be planted about 6-8″ deep. It’s a good idea refer to the specific instructions on the bulb packaging.
- Planting: Plant bulbs upright with the pointed ends up and root side down at the recommended depth (see plant tag for planting depth).
- Fertilizing: Before backfilling the hole, add lots of organic matter like peat moss to add drainage and enrich the soil. It’s also a good idea to mix in a special bulb fertilizer (this is the one that I use and recommend). Avoid using bone meal if rodents, skunks, or other small mammals are an issue as bone meal attracts them.
- Backfilling: Finally, backfill the holes with fresh garden soil and water thoroughly.

Embracing Chaos: The “Toss and Plant” Method of Design
Want to create a natural, carefree look in your garden? Forget meticulous measurements and embrace the “toss and plant” method! This unconventional approach involves literally tossing handfuls of daffodil bulbs across your planting area and letting them land where they may. The result? A charmingly haphazard display that mimics the way daffodils grow in the wild.
While it might seem a bit reckless, this technique has its merits because informal drifts of daffodils can be more visually appealing than rigid rows to some.
Why You Might Love It
- Effortless Charm: Achieve a whimsical, meadow-like aesthetic with minimal effort.
- Time-Saver: Skip the measuring and digging of individual holes.
- Organic Look: Mimic the naturalized beauty of daffodils in the wild.
The Drawbacks
- Uneven Spacing: Bulbs may end up too close together or too far apart.
- Overcrowding: If not done carefully, overcrowding can hinder growth and blooms.
Tips for “Toss and Plant” Success
Should you decide to use this planting method, opt for large, open areas like lawns or meadows. Aim for a relatively even distribution to avoid overcrowding. And avoid steep slopes or uneven ground where bulbs might roll away.
With all this said, I don’t use this method of planting daffodil bulbs because I like my garden spaces a bit more organized. However, if I were to use it, I would toss them, stand back, and fill in the gaps to get a full look.
NOTE: If you decide to plant daffodils in your lawn for a naturalized look, keep in mind that you need to avoid cutting back the foliage until it yellows and browns out. This ensures you bulbs store energy for next year’s blooms.

Post-Planting Care
- Watering: Water the bulbs regularly, especially during dry periods.
- Fertilizing: Fertilize in the fall when you plant and again in the spring when the foliage emerges.
- Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Cutting Back: It is ok to cut your blooms for arrangements but do not cut the foliage back until it browns out. That is where the bulbs stores its energy for next year’s flowers.
Additional Tips for Planting Daffodils
- Naturalizing: To encourage daffodils to naturalize (multiply and spread), leave the foliage to die back naturally after blooming.
- Pest Control: Protect bulbs from rodents by planting them in wire cages or using repellents.
- Indoor Planting: Daffodils can also be grown indoors in pots. Choose a well-draining potting mix and provide adequate sunlight.

Planting Daffodils in Pots
Even if you live in a region where winter’s chill can turn potted plants into icy casualties, you can still enjoy the sunny disposition of daffodils indoors. In colder zones like 6b, where the ground freezes solid, potted daffodils offer a solution to those with limited garden spaces.
Because bulbs still need that winter chill time to bloom, they still need to be planted in the fall. However, we’ll need to bring these pots indoors during the winter, to protect the bulbs from the damaging freeze-thaw cycles.
Here’s how to pot them up for a vibrant spring display, while ensuring they survive the cold winter months.
Choosing Your Container and Soil
- Pot Size: Opt for a pot at least 12 inches deep and wide enough to comfortably house your bulbs.
- Drainage: Excellent drainage is crucial! Ensure your pot has drainage holes to prevent drowning your daffodil bulbs.
- Potting Mix: Use a well-draining potting mix, ideally one that includes compost and perlite for optimal aeration.

Planting Your Daffodil Bulbs in Pots
- Positioning: Place your bulbs close together, but not touching, with the pointed ends facing upwards.
- Depth: Cover the bulbs with potting mix, leaving about an inch of space between the soil surface and the rim of the pot.
- Watering: Water thoroughly after planting.
Care and Overwintering
- Sunlight: Place the pot in a sunny location, ideally with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
- Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy while the pot is outdoors.
- Fertilizer: A light application of bulb fertilizer will promote healthy growth.
- Bringing them in: Before the first hard frost, move your pots to a protected location like an unheated garage or shed. Aim for a consistent temperature between 35-45°F (2-7°C). Then leave the alone for the winter.
- Spring awakening: In early spring, gradually reintroduce the pots to outdoor conditions, increasing sunlight and watering as the weather warms.
I’ve potted them up in the fall and kept them in an unheated garage on an exterior wall to protect them from the freeze and thaw while still giving them their chill. It works well!
Forcing Daffodil Bulbs Indoors
Another version of potting up your daffodils is by placing your bulbs in a bag with good ventilation and keeping it refrigerated for 12-15 weeks. Pot them up and you can either force them indoors or put them outside.
What to Do If Your Daffodil Bulbs Didn’t Bloom
When spring arrives, if your daffodils didn’t come up or bloom, there could be a few reasons it happened. I wrote an article to help you drill down on the causes and provided ways to fix it. You can read my post about fixing daffodil bulbs that didn’t bloom here.

Final Thoughts on How to Plant Daffodil Bulbs
Planting daffodil bulbs is such a simple thing to do that is totally worth the effort come spring. Imagine stepping into your garden next spring, greeted by a sea of sunny blooms dancing in the breeze. That vision alone is enough to inspire me to plant hundreds more this fall in my cottage garden! Cheers to a spring filled with the beauty and joy that only daffodils can bring!
For more information about planting daffodils, please read this article from the Penn State Cooperative Extension.
If you’d like to learn more about planting bulbs in the fall, I shared an informative article that breaks down planting daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, and so much more.
To drill down on more beginner gardening techniques and tips, please read these posts:
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Enjoy your day! xo

