Now is the time to plant bulbs!
It should be at the top of your fall gardening checklist. If you want your beds to look beautiful come spring, put in the work now by planting bulbs that will grow and bloom after the winter freeze.
Jessica Berrett, a horticulture manager at the Ashton Gardens at Thanksgiving Point, shared her favorite bulbs to plant in the fall.
Why Fall Planting is Essential
It sounds like an extra step, but Jessica said fall bulb planting is something everyone should be doing. “If you want flowers in the spring, beautiful, colorful flowers of all types… now’s the time. This is the time to get planting,” she emphasized. The ideal time to plant bulbs is any time now, up until the ground is too cold or frozen. Utah is seeing a heat stretch currently, but that won’t affect the planting process.
Bulb Longevity and Placement
All the bulbs Jessica showed need a cooling period, which is why they are planted in the fall and then pop up in the spring.
Depending on where you place them in your yard, they can stay in the ground permanently. “Plant them once and they’ll come back every spring. They just stay there, that’s their forever home,” Jessica said. However, if you want different summer annuals, you’ll need to take them out after blooming and replace them with summer flowers.
Where to Buy Bulbs
Jessica recommended starting with local nurseries for purchasing bulbs, but may find some elsewhere. “You can also find some good deals at big box stores and there are some specific things you can order online,” Jessica advised. She said you can find an amazing variety of bulbs online.
Favorite Bulbs to Plant
Jessica walked us through some of her favorite bulbs:
- Tulips: “When we plant it tulip bulbs, we want to put it with the kind of pointy side up if we can,” Jessica explained. Tulips should be planted between four and six inches deep.
- Daffodils: “One of the benefits of daffodils is that deer don’t really like them,” Jessica mentioned. They come in various sizes and colors, mostly yellows and whites.
- Fritillaria: A unique flower that looks like little bells hanging on a tall stalk. They can be expensive and are often ordered online.
- Hyacinths: It’s fascinating to see how the papery color of the bulb matches the flower. However, these bulbs can cause skin reactions. “A lot of people have a skin reaction to this bulb, so don’t touch unless you’re wearing gloves.” Once planted, they won’t bother you.
- Ornamental Onions: Ornamental onions are part of the onion family. These plants are known for their striking appearance, with big purple or white balls on long stems.
- Crocus and Snow Drops: Crocus and snow drops are some of the first flowers to bloom in early spring. Crocus comes in various colors. Snow drops resemble little white bells and are a flower for your garden.
- Anemone: Anemones are interesting and fun bulbs to plant.
Planting Tools
When it comes to planting bulbs, simplicity is key. “Sometimes you’ll see specialty tools in the garden centers for bulb planting. Honestly, I don’t find them to be that useful,” Jessica said. A basic trowel is usually more effective than specialized bulb planters.
Planting Process
- Prepare the Soil: Use a trowel to dig a hole at least four inches deep.
- Place the Bulb: Take your tulip pointy side up, push it down and cover it up.
- Watering: If it’s a dry fall, water your flower beds as usual. Over the winter, let nature take its course. If it’s a dry spring, water if needed.
Find more planting inspiration from Jessica on Instagram @plantgeek and find Thanksgiving Point @thankspoint.
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