Why You Should Be Planting Your Flower Bulbs Right Now

Grab your shovel. Now is the time to plant beautifying flower bulbs such as tulips and daffodils to ensure big, bold blooms in the spring. “It’s probably the simplest way to add color and effect to your yard,” says Paul Bilyk, owner of Lakewood Garden Center. He shares a few stress-free tips for bulb-planting this season.

Mental Notes
While you may be hyperfocused on your garden in the summer, the fall is a perfect time to plant bulbs. He recommends planting bulbs from mid-September through October. This way, the plants remain dormant between 10 and 14 weeks before growing. “Ultimately, all you’re looking for is the proper amount of chill hours that the bulb needs,” Bilyk says.

Quality Bulbs
Start with buying healthy, firm bulbs from reputable sources. “Soft and mushy usually means that it’s going to be rotten in some respect,” says Bilyk. Pro tip: be sure that the bulb still has its brown paper wrapping on it, so it has a protective coat through the cold months. Then, bury them with the pointed end up, or on their side. “I’ll plant them sideways [and] they’ll usually take care of themselves,” he says.

Location, Location
Most bulb flowers need six hours of sunlight, so you’ll want to make sure they are in a spot with well-draining soil that’s rich in organic matter — think soil that has plenty of natural bacteria and nutrients. Next, dig a hole two times the height of the bulb. “That way you’ve got as much soil over the bulb as you have bulb in the soil,” Bilyk says. No need to over-water either — seasonal rainwater should do the trick.