Plant Bulbs for Spring

This is the time of year when you're probably thinking about fall and football – but it's also time to think about your spring garden. Fall is ideal for planting bulbs for next year's garden and flowerbeds. Planting bulbs like daffodils, tulips and hyacinths now gives them exposure to the long period of cool temperatures they need to flower beautifully in spring.

Visit your local True Value store for the expert advice, tools and products you need and then follow the steps below to get a head start on your spring garden.

Step 1. Choose Bulbs
It's important to choose healthy bulbs. Avoid bulbs that are dry and withered or spongy and moldy. The best bulbs are firm and plump. As a rule of thumb, larger bulbs tend to produce more flowers.

Before picking bulbs, consider the color scheme you'd like to create. If you want a natural and varied look, choose contrasting colors in a range of heights. For a more uniform garden, choose flowers in shades of the same color. Check the plant's height on the package and plant low-growing bulbs in front of taller ones.

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Step 2. Select a Gardening Site
Since bulbs prefer full sun exposure, choosing the right gardening site is important. Bulbs also need to be planted in rich, well-draining soil. The rich soil will help feed the bulbs underground, improving the quality of your springtime bloom. Proper drainage in your garden is also extremely important because bulbs can easily rot conditions that are too wet.

• If you need to improve drainage in the area where bulbs are planted, add compost or peat moss to your soil.

Step 3. Prepare Soil
In the early fall, the soil should still be soft enough for digging. The bulbs need to be planted before the ground freezes so they have time to develop strong roots. Planting in autumn also gives the roots plenty of growing time before spring. Use a garden tiller or trowel to loosen up the soil. Remove any weeds or unwanted vegetation from the area, using a rototiller to splice the garden. Go over the area again crosswise to cut the soil up further.

When you are ready to begin planting, use a bulb planter to dig 8" holes for larger bulbs and 5" holes for smaller bulbs. If you don't have a ruler handy, a good guide is to plant the bulbs twice as deep as they are tall. Check the bulb package to determine spacing and exact planting depth to be sure. The larger the bulbs, the more space you should allow between them.

• To make your garden extra healthy, add a thick layer of compost into the soil using a till or spade.

Step 4. Pland Bulbs
Bulbs grow best when they're planted in groups. In a small garden, plant bulbs in groupings of six to 12. In a large garden, plant them in groups of 12 to 24.

Be sure to plant the pointed end of the bulb up. If you can't tell which end is correct, place the bulb on its side and it will right itself. Cover bulbs lightly with soil and sprinkle bulb food on top. Add a 2” layer of mulch or leaves. Keep the soil moist by watering thoroughly.

• To protect your bulbs from pests, plant bulbs in a cage made of hardware cloth. The roots and stems grow through, but rodents won't be able to get to the bulbs.

Step 5. Bulb Care & Maintenance
Bulbs don't require heavy feeding, but they do need an annual application of fertilizer to look their best. Remove bloom seed heads immediately after the bloom period, but let the bulb foliage die naturally. This keeps the bulbs a healthy size so they can thrive. To help prevent weed seeds from growing, consider mulching with organic matter or weed barriers.

Great job! Your efforts in autumn should produce a beautiful garden come spring. For all of your lawn and gardening needs throughout the year, head to your local True Value hardware store to get the tools, products and expert advice you need to start right.

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