When To Plant Spring Bulbs

Can you believe it's November already?! I feel like I'm in shock with each passing month. And although Fall is my most favorite season of them all, I'm a little sad that the gardening season is coming to an end. ​

I spent my Spring in quarantine learning all about gardening, my Summer was spent learning more about gardening and updating my front landscape, and now that I'm in the Fall, I want to keep going with a vegetable garden. 

But in my Zone 6, it isn't advised to keep going much longer. If you don't know which zone you're in, enter your zip code here.

When To Plant Spring Bulbs

The ideal time to plant spring bulbs is in the Fall, but when exactly depends largely on where you live. Spring blooming bulbs need about 12-14 weeks of colder weather in order to stimulate root growth. 

You'll want to wait to get these into the
ground until your weather is consistently cool,
​but before the ground freezes. 

Fun Fact: These bulbs were my Great-Grandmother's! I love that if taken care of, these bulbs can be passed down generation to generation. Now, let's hope I can keep them going.

How To Plant Spring Bulbs

To plant your bulbs, you'll want to dig a hole according to the label on your purchased bulb bag. Because these specific bulbs were passed down generations, there wasn't a label. So I went down about 5 inches, which was the recommended depth for a few other bulbs I planted in our front landscape. 

Tip: A drill auger attachment like this one
is great for digging small holes, but if you're planting
a lot of bulbs in a single area with terrible soil, I found it easier
to dig one big hole with a shovel and strategically
​place them. 

Once the hold is dug, you want to set the bulb with the pointed side up. However, if you can't get your bulb to stand properly, don't stress. You can also lay your bulb on it's side and it'll find it's way. 

If planting alongside a hard surface such as a sidewalk, wall, or container, be sure to place your bulb enough away from that hard surface so that it doesn't freeze over the winter. The soil around it will help keep it warm.

When your bulbs are set and your hole is filled back up, consider using a barrier such as chicken wire to help keep squirrels from snacking on your newly planted bulbs. I cut sections of chicken wire up with wire cutters and placed them on top of my bulbs, securing with landscaping pins I found at my local hardware store. 

Where To Buy Spring Bulbs

The quickest and easiest answer is your local hardware store's garden center. I found so many options and varieties it was hard to choose. But go early in the season if you can. A lot of people in your community will likely have the same idea.

If shopping online is more your speed, here are a few sites that I've personally explored. These bulbs go quicker than a dropped crumb in my house, so be sure to set your calendars for next year!

• Johnny Seeds
• ​Floret Flowers -This is the flower company that will be featured on the Magnolia network. I was introduced to them by one of my favorite YouTubers, Garden Answer. Check out Erin's blog post about Spring bulbs here for major inspiration! 
• Eden Brothers