An important first step to planting bulbs is to figure out if your bulb is a spring planted or fall planted type. In cool weather climates there are many bulbs (example cannas, gladiolas and dahlias) that you will want to plant in the spring time after the last frost and dig each fall after the top foliage dies back. The type of bulb this guide is specific to is fall planted bulbs. Some examples are crocus, tulips, surprise lilies, hyacinth, grape hyacinth and these are just a few of the types.

Soil preparation is one of the most important parts to beautiful blooms and bulbs that will come back year after year. You will want to make sure the soil is loosened and soft to a depth about 2 to 3 inches deeper than you want to plant your bulbs. As a general rule most bulbs should be planted three times as deep as the bulb is high so your typical tulip bulb is going to be planted about 6 to 8 inches deep while a typical crocus bulb might only be planted 3 to 4 inches deep. The softer soil below the bulbs will allow them to grow thicker and deeper root systems. If you are an organic gardener you can amend the soil with a mixture of manure and bone meal, be cautious of bone meal though since many animals will smell it and dig in that area. Non-organic gardeners can amend the soil with a basic 10-10-10 fertilizer although one specially formulated just for bulbs is best.

Now with the soil prepared you are ready for planting. The best time to plant is going to be after the first hard frost but before the ground freezes. Dig your planting holes to the proper depth. I personally find if I am planting alot of bulbs in a single area it can be easier to dig a trench or round so all the planting can be done at once. A thin layer of sharp gravel at the bottom of the planting hole will discourage small animals digging up from underneath. With your bulbs in place arranged as you want carefully backfill the first layer of soil to keep from moving the bulbs around too much. The rest of the soil can then just be shoveled into place. Before you completely fill the soil back in you can also place a few grape hyacinth bulbs around each bulb planting. Grape hyacinths send up foliage in the fall which can be a helpful marker for where bulbs already are to avoid digging them up. A layer of grit spread over the planting area can prevent squirrels from digging up your bulbs as well. Then you've got them protected from above and beneath!

Avoid mulching above the bulbs until the ground has started to freeze up, you don't want to keep the bulbs too warm, they need a good cold cycle to make successful blooms. After the ground has started to freeze solid you can put a layer of 3-4 inches of mulch to keep the bulbs from heaving out of the ground during freeze and thaw cycles. In very early spring before your bulbs start to emerge you'll want to remove all but an inch or two of the mulch. Now sit back and enjoy the flowers!