Fall Planting Guide for Show-Stopping Spring Blooms
on Jul 10, 2024, Updated Oct 25, 2024
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It is not too late to plant flowering bulbs for spring blooms!
Is there anything more joyful than the first glimpses of spring when tulips, crocus, and daffodils poke through the winter? Get common spring flowering bulbs in the ground now if you want to enjoy them after the long, cold winter!
If you’ve never planted spring bulbs in fall before, here are by best tips for crocus, daffodils, iris and more (even if you live in warm climates), a planting depth chart, and where to find and store flower bulbs. If you love spring flowers, you need this fall planting guide.
- Fall Planting Guide for Beautiful Spring Flowering Bulbs
- Where to Find Spring Flowering Bulbs for Fall Planting
- What Type of Flowering Bulbs Should I Plant in the Fall?
- When to Plant Spring Bulbsย
- How to Store Flowering Bulbs Before Planting
- How to Plant Bulbs for Spring Flowers
- Common Questions People Have About Planting Spring Bulbs in the Fall
Fall Planting Guide for Beautiful Spring Flowering Bulbs
Love flowers? Make sure to add “planting spring flowering bulbs” to your autumn gardening checklist. It’s an easy task – but timing is pretty important.
For beautiful spring flowers, you must plant flower bulbs in the fall before it gets too cold and the ground freezes. If you miss the window of opportunity, you’ll have to wait until next year.
Where to Find Spring Flowering Bulbs for Fall Planting
I found lovely high quality spring flower bulbs at Costco that I’m super excited to plant! Find bulbs for spring flowers at your local hardware store, Walmart and even ALDI. Or, order beautiful heirloom flower bulbs to plant in the fall from your favorite garden catalogs.
Flower bulbs are for sale everywhere at this time of year! Just make sure to buy from a reputable seller as poor quality bulbs can make poor quality flowers.
What Type of Flowering Bulbs Should I Plant in the Fall?
Common spring-blooming bulbs to plant in fall include:
- Tulips
- Daffodils
- Crocuses
- Hyacinths
- Grape hyacinths (Muscari)
- Snowdrops
- Alliums
- Fritillaria
- Dutch iris
- Glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa)
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When to Plant Spring Bulbs
October is normally the ideal time to plant spring flowering bulbs in my area of Eastern Iowa. Cooler soil temperatures discourage the bulbs from growing too soon.
I normally wait until mid October or even the beginning of November to plant bulbs, but as long as they’re in the ground before a hard frost, you can plant them anytime after your weather cools off.
If you live in a warmer location, read this post from Longfield Gardens about growing bulbs in your area. You might need to chill them in the fridge for several months before planting.
How to Store Flowering Bulbs Before Planting
It’s good to plant bulbs quickly after your purchase them (within a week), or store them in the fridge. Since I’m planting in the next couple of weeks, I’m keeping the bulbs safe in my fridge. I don’t want them to start growing too early or they won’t flower in the spring
How to Plant Bulbs for Spring Flowers
The key to growing the prettiest flowers is to plant in a rich, well-draining soil. It’s always a good idea to amend soil with compost or other natural fertilizer to give your bulbs a good growing environment.
While most flowering bulbs like full sun, partial sun might work as well.
Dig holes to the required depth –ย usually three times their height. For example, if a tulip bulb is 2 inches tall, plant it 6 inches deep. Smaller bulbs like crocuses can be planted 3-4 inches deep, while larger bulbs like daffodils need 6-8 inches.
If you’re terrible atย eyeballing depth like I am, double check with a ruler to make sure you plant them deep enough.
Be sure to loosen soil if it’s tightly packed. Plant the bulbs pointy side up, cover with dirt and mulch, and water. When in doubt, read the package directions, as they usually (but not always) include instructions.
Don’t forget: plant bulbs with the pointed end up and the flat, root end down. If you can’t tell which is which, plant the bulb on its side โ the plant will find its way up.
After planting, make sure to cover the soil with mulch and organic matter to keep spring weeds down! Don’t skip this important step.
Planting Depth Guide for Spring Flowering Bulbs
Take a quick screenshot of this to save for future reference. The rough estimate is to plant them 3 times the bulb diameter. This chart also shows you how many inches deep to plant for beautiful blooms year after year.
Bulb |
Planting Depth |
Planting Distance |
| Allium | 4 inches | 6 inches |
| Crocus | 3 inches | 2 inches |
| Daffodil | 6 inches | 4 inches |
| Hyacinth | 6 inches | 4 inches |
| Iris | 4 inches | 3 inches |
| Narcissus | 6 inches | 4 inches |
| Tulip | 6 inches | 4 inches |
Beautiful spring blooming bulbs do require a little planning in the fall, but they are worth it! Tulips, daffodils, and grape hyacinths pull me out of the winter blues. What’s your favorite spring flowering bulb?
Common Questions People Have About Planting Spring Bulbs in the Fall
Should I water newly planted bulbs?
Yes, water thoroughly after planting to help establish root growth, but don’t water again unless there’s a prolonged dry spell. Too much water can cause bulbs to rot.
Do I need to protect bulbs from animals?
Many bulbs, especially tulips, are attractive to rodents and deer. You can protect them by placing chicken wire over the planting area, using repellent sprays, or planting naturally resistant bulbs like daffodils and alliums.
Can I plant bulbs in containers?
Yes, you can plant bulbs in containers, but they’ll need extra protection in cold climates. Use a well-draining potting mix and either move containers to an unheated garage for winter or insulate them well.
