10 Bulb-Planting Mistakes to Avoid this Fall
Bulb planting mistakes can negatively impact growth in spring, or worse, kill your bulbs before they even have the chance to establish. If you’re new to planting bulbs, make sure you avoid these 10 common mistakes this fall.
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Mistakes happen in the garden. It’s all a part of the learning process. Unfortunately, when it comes to bulbs, you’ll often only realize your mistake in spring when your plants are supposed to be growing well. By that time, it’s too late, and you’ll need to try again next year.
So rather than learning from your own mistakes, why not learn from ours? I’ve made a few of these mistakes in my garden, as have many others on the Epic team. Avoid these issues, and you should have no trouble planting bulbs this fall.
Using Old Bulbs
Before you even consider getting your bulbs in the ground, check whether they are viable. You don’t want to go through the effort of planting a batch that won’t ever pop up through the soil. And unless you have a large patch of garden to play around with, space is at a premium and should be reserved for the healthiest stock you’ve got.
The first question to ask is whether they are too old. While some species last longer in storage than others, bulbs don’t last forever. The recommended storage time is around six months. You can store them for up to a year, but beyond that time, you might be better off investing in new ones.
That doesn’t mean you can’t plant old ones at all. As long as they look healthy and show no signs of disease, give it a try. But if you do plant, manage your expectations, and don’t be disappointed if they fail.
Starting With Bad Bulbs
Age isn’t the only viability characteristic to consider. No matter whether you lifted and stored bulbs from your garden or purchased from a supplier, you should always check for signs a bulb has gone bad. Purchasing from a nursery doesn’t guarantee health.
To start, test the firmness by gently pressing into the bulb. Soft or mushy spots indicate the bulb is not healthy. It should also have some weight to it. Check the surface for signs of pests or diseases. Be sure that no areas have shriveled. An absence of these issues means you’re good to go.
While you can plant old stock and hope they’ll grow, don’t follow the same logic with bad bulbs. This is one of the more dangerous bulb planting mistakes you can make, as some pests and diseases can spread through the soil to neighboring species. Don’t compost them either – discard them and shop for new ones instead.
Forgetting Soil Prep
Soil prep is not the most exciting task, but it is an essential one. Even though your flowers are only going to pop up in several months’ time, they need the right soil conditions to prepare them for strong growth now.
Drainage is the most important characteristic to consider. These species are prone to rotting in waterlogged, soggy soil with little airflow. If your soil is clay-based, amend it heavily to avoid killing your crop prematurely. Also, amend sandy soil that drains too quickly with organic matter like compost.
Your soil should also be rich in nutrients. Bulbs do contain the stored nutrients they need to sprout, but they will appreciate rich, healthy soil as they grow later in the season. If you’re not sure what balance of nutrients you’re dealing with, purchase a home soil test kit and amend as needed to provide the perfect conditions.
Planting at the Wrong Time
Now that you’ve checked your materials and prepped your soil, it’s time to get growing. Or is it? One of the biggest bulb-planting mistakes you can make is putting them in the ground at the wrong time. Sowing too early or too late places your flowers at risk of frost damage and impacts the healthy root development needed for strong growth in spring.
Generally, bulbs are planted around six weeks before the ground freezes. The soil shouldn’t be too warm, but it also can’t be so cold that it stops the bulb from establishing. The exact time will depend on your zone. Use these times as an estimate, but always check your forecasts, too. You’re aiming for temperatures between 40 and 50°F (4-10°C).
If your soil doesn’t get that cool due to a tropical climate, choose species that don’t require a cold period to sprout.
| Zone | Planting Time |
| 1-2 | Early September |
| 3 | Mid-September |
| 4-5 | Late September to Early October |
| 6 | Mid-October |
| 7-8 | Early November |
| 9 | Early December |
| 10 | Mid-December |
| 11 | Late December |
Planting at the Wrong Depth
Bulbous species are quite particular about depth. Planting too deeply may prevent a bulb from sprouting and can make it more susceptible to rot. Shallow planting exposes the bulb to the elements. It also provides easy access for pests and other garden dwellers to dig them up.
The right depth will depend on the type of bulb you’re planting. Luckily, when purchasing, they generally come with instructions on how deep to plant them. If you’re not sure, aim for a depth of around two to three times the height of the bulb.
When you’re getting several varieties in the ground at once, digging this deep can become exhausting. Use a bulb planting auger to get to the right depth quickly rather than giving up and placing them too shallow.
Wrong Spacing
As with any ornamental, ignoring spacing will lead to greater headaches as the season progresses. Bulbs don’t like to be overcrowded and will perform worse later on if they’re packed together initially.
We all want a full and overflowing bed with lush growth. But patience is the way to get that result; not crowding them close together. This leads to competition and increases the risk of pest and disease problems. This is especially important for perennial species that you plan to keep in the ground for the year.
This bulb planting mistake is less of a concern in containers. Potted bulbs are usually planted much closer (but not touching) to fill out a pot with as many flowers as possible. But these are also often treated as annuals and won’t perform as well the next year.
Planting Upside Down
When you’re transplanting seedlings or full plants, telling which side up to plant is simple. Roots go in the ground, and stems and leaves go above the soil. It’s not always that easy with bulbs. Because you plant them when they are dormant, there usually aren’t any roots or shoots to tell you which way is up.
To avoid placing them upside down, always orient your bulbs with the pointed side facing up. Roots will emerge from the flat end, and new shoots will develop from the pointed end. It can be tougher to tell with rounder species like gladiolus, but you should still see a visible difference between the bottom and the top.
As far as mistakes go, this one is not the worst. Tenacious roots will still grow, even if they are planted the wrong way around. However, it may take them a little longer to get going while the stems turn themselves around in the soil.
Ignoring Sun Requirements
Most of these varieties require a full sun position to thrive. This is around six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day. The right amount of light will deliver the strongest growth and the most flowers.
Don’t make the mistake of growing in an area with too much shade in the fall, as it will come back to bite you in spring. Some can handle partial shade (like crocus), while others only perform in full sun (lilies, tulips). Think about their native environments to give you a clue – woodland species don’t mind positions under trees, for example. Or you can take a look at our list of bulbs for both sun and shade.
Choose the right variety for your garden position rather than forcing one to perform where it’s not suited. Also consider the position of the sun in spring and summer to decide on the ideal location.
Overwatering
Even though your flowers will only emerge in spring, they still need moisture in fall. Correct watering now will help the roots establish, creating a strong foundation for growth later on. Unfortunately, if you overdo it by overwatering, you risk losing them altogether.
This bulb-planting mistake can be costly, particularly if your soil doesn’t drain well enough. Excess moisture and lack of airflow lead to rot, killing them before they get a chance to establish. A problem in one area can also spread to crops nearby.
Sadly, moisture is not always in your control. I’ve had a whole bed of dahlia bulbs rot due to unexpected excessive rain one year. That’s why it’s so important to check your soil and make sure it drains quickly.
Not Planning Ahead
The final bulb planting mistake is not as dramatic, but it is still a design mistake you want to avoid for a beautiful garden. Before you start with any stage of the process, it’s best to plan ahead and think carefully about what species you want to plant and where.
Location is obviously important to consider for growth, but it impacts the look of your landscape too. If you have a specific color palette in mind, consider what plants will pop up where, and at what point in the season. If you don’t want patches of one single color, mix up your varieties and their positioning.
Most importantly, think about flowering time. I’m all for masses of one bulb variety for a harmonious look, but that does greatly limit your flowering window. For continuous color, choose a variety that flower at different times. That way, you’ll always have something to look forward to in the garden.
