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Planting Fall Bulbs for Beautiful Spring Blooms

Published on
October 14, 2020 at 11:30:00 AM PDT October 14, 2020 at 11:30:00 AM PDTth, October 14, 2020 at 11:30:00 AM PDT

The dropping temperatures means it’s starting to feel more like Fall.


In other words – a perfect time for planting fall bulbs for spring blooms! Make bulbs that first pop of color in your garden in early spring while other plants are still in dormancy or just beginning to wake up.


When selecting your bulbs, look for white, healthy bulbs with a paper covering, similar to an onion. Do not purchase bulbs that smell, are mushy or moldy. 


Remember the BIGGER the BULB the BIGGER the BLOOM!


1 - Use a shovel to dig a hole to the proper planting depth.

  • Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths - plant eight inches deep
  • Crocus, Scilla, Grape Hyacinth - plant three inches deep


2 - Loosen the soil. If soil is sandy, mix in peat moss or leaf compost with the dirt. For clay soil mix in Earl May Structure.


3 - Sprinkle the bottom of the hole with Bone Meal (one handful per square foot). Mix well into the soil.


4 - Spray bulb(s) with Repels-All® Animal Repellent to keep pests clear of newly planted bulbs.


5 -

Place the bulbs firmly in the soil with the pointed end up.

  • Hyacinths and Daffodils - five to six inches apart
  • Tulips - four to five inches apart
  • Crocus, Scilla, Grape Hyacinth - two to three inches apart


6 - Cover bulbs and water them well.


7 - Cover the soil with two to three inches of mulch in the late fall.



TIP: For the most impact, plant bulbs in groups of 12 or more. Mass plantings of a single color create a great splash!


Want more information? Watch our video on How to Plant Fall Bulbs. Have questions? See your local Earl May for answers!