Did you know fall is the time to plant spring-blooming bulbs? It’s true! Spring bloomers like daffodils, hyacinths, tulips, crocus, and more are best planted outdoors as dormant bulbs in the fall, and they’re one of the most rewarding efforts to make in the garden because they’re so reliable. Bulbs can be planted anytime before the ground freezes but, for best selection, it’s wise to shop for bulbs on the earlier side of the season. Read on for our best advice for planting fall bulbs and visit a Petitti Garden Center near you to shop our selection. We offer Netherland Bulbs, a premium grower whose Dutch bulb experts are on farms year-round in Holland, inspecting crops and ensuring that only the finest bulbs are shipped to Petitti’s in Northeast Ohio.
fall is the time to plant
spring-blooming bulbs
how to do it best
3 tips for planting fall bulbs
1. Plant each bulb 3x as deep as the size/height of the bulb. For example, plant a 2″-tall bulb at a depth of 6 inches. Only plant bulbs that are firm and heavy, with intact papery skin.
2. Position the bulb in the hole with the “point” end up and the “fuzzy” end down.
3. For the best appearance and a stronger visual statement, dig a single hole 15″ wide and 6-8″ deep. Place multiple bulbs of the same type, or plant an assortment of bulbs with different bloom times in layers. Angelo recommends planting in groups of at least five to seven, and avoiding singles or rows.
success products
how to do it best
Be sure add Bulb-tone® and Bone Meal fertilizer to the hole at the time of planting. When backfilling with soil, cover them up with a couple inches of Soil Perfector® to keep the soil loose and protect against hungry rodents. You can also sprinkle Repels-All® to prevent animals from snacking on the bulbs.
Consider the use of helpful tools like the Garden Weasel® Bulb Planter and garden knee pads to make the work of gardening easy & comfy.
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Espoma® Bulb-tone®
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Espoma® Bone Meal
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Espoma® Soil Perfector®
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Bonide® Repels-All®
selecting varieties that thrive in ohio
All fall-planted bulb varieties available at Petitti’s will thrive in Northeast Ohio’s climate. The most popular types are crocus, daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths. Paperwhite narcissus and amaryllis are also great bulbs for growing indoors. Here’s a closer look at specific varieties.
spring preparations
start with fall bulbs
A full selection of fall bulbs is available starting around Labor Day Weekend each September. Remember to shop early for the most varieties, and plant them before the ground freezes (usually by mid-December in Northeast Ohio). Give yourself a gift this fall by planting bulbs – you will enjoy “unwrapping” them when the warm spring winds start to blow next year and fresh color lights up your garden.
See more of our spring blooming plants