7 Bulbs to Plant in October for a Spectacular Spring Garden You Can Look Forward To All Winter

A spectacular spring garden full of color and interest is a joy to behold and something to look forward to over the winter months. Backed up by early-flowering perennials and shrubs, it is often the spring flowering bulbs that take center stage when given the chance to show off.

Planted several months before they bloom, the fall is a busy time for bulb planting. October is a key month for planting spring bulbs, as the soil still holds enough warmth to encourage important root growth before temperatures drop.

Having planted what must be thousands of spring bulbs over my horticultural career, I share some of my favorite bulbs to plant in October and the tools, like this Spear & Jackson long-handled bulb planter (available from Amazon), to make planting them easier.

Why Do We Plant Bulbs in October

We are often told to plant daffodils, crocuses and other spring bulbs in the fall, which, even though it is correct, is rather vague. In an ideal world, the optimum time to plant spring-flowering bulbs is when the ground is easily workable and there is still time for roots to develop before the necessary winter chilling period.

As a general guide, this means October is prime bulb-planting season for many of us, especially those in USDA zones 6-8, but in warmer parts, November may be more suitable. However, your garden’s topography is also important to take into account, as if you live in a hollow or frost pocket, you may want to get planting earlier before any freezes arrive.

Winter Aconite

Winter aconites (Eranthis) are among the first of the year to bloom, and produce cheerful yellow flowers when little else does. They may be small, but winter aconites are hardy down to USDA zone 4 and look highly effective when planted en masse.

Thriving in partial or dappled shade, they are ideal for woodland settings or for growing under a deciduous tree in a border. They prefer a fertile and moist, but well-drained soil where they will naturalize and form golden carpets over time.

To rehydrate the dry, small tubers, soak them in tepid water for several hours before planting. Plant closely in clusters for a natural effect, 2-3 inches deep and water in. Alternatively, you can purchase and plant them ‘in the green’ in early spring.

The vast majority of plant bulbs are considered toxic to humans and pets, and care should be taken, especially where children are present. Along with being good general gardening practice, gloves should always be worn when handling bulbs.

Winter aconite bulbs are available to purchase from Amazon.

Glory of the Snow

Blooming from late winter to early spring, Chionodoxa Luciliae, or glory of the snow, as they are also known, produce striking bright blue flowers with white centers. Growing to around 6 inches tall, they are ideal for planting at the front of a border or in rock or gravel gardens.

Although glory of the snow will still flower in partial shade, a spot where they will receive 6 or more hours of sun per day is where they will perform their best. To give the bulbs time to establish roots, plant them around 4 weeks before the first frost of winter.

To help them thrive, plant the bulbs in small groups 3 times their depth and 2-3 times their width apart.

When planting small bulbs on a workable soil, I have found that a sharp tool, like a Berry & Bird hand dibber, available from Lowe’s, can make a correctly sized hole quickly and easily.

Allium

Another bulb to plant in October for late spring to early summer impact is the allium. Adored for their globe-shaped blooms of tightly packed tiny flowers held aloft on slender stems, ornamental onions, as they are also called, attract pollinators, especially bees.

Thriving in full sun, alliums are drought-tolerant and, when other plants are wilting in the heat, continue to perform well. In particular, ‘Purple Sensation’, an allium variety I regularly grow in the gardens I manage, has more than proved itself despite the heat.

To prevent premature flowering shortly after planting, which can be caused when the ground is still warm, plant alliums when the soil has begun to cool and is around 50°F to 60°F.

With its large deep-purple flowers, 6 plus inches in diameter, allium ‘Globemaster’ available to purchase from Burpee, unsurprisingly has large bulbs, which can be a handful to plant deeply. Thankfully, you can purchase bulb planting auger drill bits, in sets of various sizes, from Amazon, which make light work of mass plantings.

Dwarf Iris

Dwarf irises (Iris reticulata) might only grow to around 4-6 inches tall, but their exquisite petals more than make up for their lack of size. Depending on your location, dwarf irises flower from February to March and should be planted when the soil falls to below 60°F, but before the first frost.

Available in shades of blue and yellow, I usually pick Iris reticulata ‘Harmony’, available from Burpee, for its rich royal blue petals, or ‘Katharine Hodgkin’ for its refined pale blue hues.

Flowering best in full sun, dwarf irises can also grow well in dappled shade. However, to prevent the bulbs from rotting, only plant them where the drainage is good and avoid areas prone to waterlogging.

Due to their small stature, you will want to plant dwarf irises where you can appreciate them. The front of a cottage garden border or in a container, like this terracotta-colored planter bowl from Amazon, will help show them off. If you want to lift your bulbs at the end of the season, you can use a bulb basket, available from Amazon, which will save you from digging around to find bulbs in the soil.

Snowdrop

Flowering at the beginning of the calendar year, snowdrops (Galanthus) are loved by both gardeners and collectors of specialist cultivars.

Snowdrops are typically planted ‘in the green’ in February or March, but you can also purchase them more cheaply as bulbs to plant in the fall. However, the trade-off for buying snowdrops as bulbs is that they are prone to drying out and may not establish as well as live plants.

Either way, choose a dappled or partially shaded spot, under a deciduous tree or on the edge of a woodland is ideal and plant 3-4 inches deep and at a similar spacing. A moist, humus-rich, but well-drained soil will help them thrive and encourage them to spread.

Snowdrop bulbs are available to purchase from Plant Addicts.

Grape Hyacinth

Mimicking a larger hyacinth, though unrelated, grape hyacinths (Muscari) produce small cones in shades of blue, pink, and white from March onwards. Growing to only 6-10 inches tall, grape hyacinths are easy-to-grow and can form carpets of color when left to their own devices.

However, Muscari spread rapidly via offsets and self-seeding, and some types are considered invasive in some areas. To control their spread, you can grow them in containers where they will be confined.

Plant in full sun on a moist, well-drained soil at a depth of 3-4 inches. Suitable for growing in USDA zones 4-8, Blue Grape muscari bulbs are available to purchase from Burpee.

Snake’s Head Fritillary

An additional spring-flowering bulb to plant in October is the snake’s head fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris). Blooming from mid-spring onward, the snake’s head fritillary produces striking nodding flowers in shades of purple, pink, or white, with an unusual check pattern.

Best planted in the fall between September and November, while the soil still holds some warmth, snake’s head fritillaries are well suited to USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8.

Plant 3 to 4 times the depth of the bulb and 4 to 6 inches apart, in a partially shaded spot on moist, well-drained soil. However, avoid areas that dry out completely in the summer, as this can cause the bulbs to shrivel and fail.

Packs of mixed Fritillaria meleagris bulbs are available to purchase from Amazon.

What to Shop

Along with flowering bulbs, blossom-covered trees are another spring garden highlight, and October is the perfect time to pre-order trees ahead of the winter dormancy planting period.

From flowering cherries and crab apples to almonds and serviceberries, there are so many great options that it can be hard to decide. Nevertheless, our specialist feature on the best trees for spring blossom will help you decide which blossom tree will look best in your garden.

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