This Fall Bulb-Planting Mistake Can Ruin Your Spring Display – Here's How to Avoid It and Get Beautiful Floral Displays
Discover how to check and prepare soil so your spring bulbs thrive – and what other planting options you have
October is a prime time to plant many spring bulbs. Planting bulbs this month can create a stunning display of snowdrops, hyacinths, daffodils, alliums, and more. One fundamental for spring bulbs is drainage; never plant bulbs in waterlogged soil. Well-draining soil is key to happy, healthy bulbs.
If the soil does not drain well, your spring bulbs may never emerge. They are more likely to rot than burst into bloom next spring. So don’t waste time or effort planting bulbs this October unless the soil is known to drain well. To do this, test the drainage and amend the soil if required.
If your soil simply isn’t suitable for planting bulbs, there are still ways to enjoy them, such as growing in pots instead. Many regions will see lots of fall and winter rain, so check before planting to make sure the soil is right. You don’t want to condemn spring bulbs to a miserable winter in waterlogged soil. When you can plant, a strong bulb planter like this on Amazon makes the job much easier.
Why You Don’t Plant Bulbs in Waterlogged Soil
Bulbs do need moisture to begin developing roots and establish themselves after planting. In the fall, natural rainfall is usually enough to trigger growth, though in drier regions you may need to water. But it is a fine line; bulbs like soil with light moisture, but don't want to sit in waterlogged soil.
The bulb planting mistake of overlooking drainage is a common factor in why many fail to emerge. If you plant bulbs in waterlogged soil in the fall, they sit in cold and wet soil over winter, which leads to one inevitable consequence: rotting.
‘The bulbs store their moisture and all of the nutrients that they need to grow in the fleshy tissue, so when they are waterlogged, that rots first, and fairly quickly,’ warns garden expert Lindsey Chastain. ‘Also, waterlogging blocks off oxygen, so they're sitting in this wet soil without enough oxygen, and that's going to cause them to rot.’
When you have clay soil, it makes growing spring bulbs more difficult, as its dense particles drain slowly and often waterlog in winter. Some plants can thrive in clay soil, but many will struggle, including most bulbs, unless you try to improve the situation.
Lindsey Chastain, a dedicated homesteader and skilled writer, is the driving force behind The Waddle and Cluck, a platform that celebrates sustainable living, gardening, and responsible farming
Ways to Improve Waterlogged Soil
If you have any concerns or doubts about drainage and whether you should plant in October, there is a simple DIY test you can do on any soil type. Dig a hole 12 inches deep and 8-12 inches wide and fill it completely with water.
‘If water still stands in a planting hole an hour after you fill it, choose a better-drained spot, plant in a raised bed, or work in compost to loosen the soil,’ says Damon Tang, founder of US Grow Zones, a free planting-calendar site that lets people look up US hardiness zones and frost dates by ZIP code or city.
Adding organic matter, such as compost, well-rotted manure, or leaf mold, is the best way to improve garden drainage in sites with heavier soils. Organic matter improves soil structure by binding the tiny, dense particles found in clay soils together, creating larger pore spaces to boost drainage.
As organic matter breaks down over time, you’ll need to do this annually to improve garden soil and track the rate of drainage until it reaches a satisfactory level. In the fall, incorporate organic matter into the planting site at least a week before planting bulbs.
Shop Organic Matter
Other Options if All Else Fails
Sometimes the soil will not play ball and never suit bulbs. Since you should never plant bulbs in waterlogged soil, what else can you do? Thankfully, two simple, proven methods allow you to grow spring bulbs without drastically overhauling flower beds.
‘We generally plant all of our bulbs in raised beds or in pots because of the amount of clay that we have,’ admits Lindsey Chastain. ‘It just kills off any bulbs that we plant directly in the ground because the soil just does not drain well.’
Raised beds are a great option for bulbs because you can control the makeup and create well-draining, nutrient-rich soil. Fill a raised bed with a mix of topsoil and compost, and it will drain well and provide essential nutrients for your plants.
Containers are also a perfect route if you cannot plant bulbs in the ground. Favorites including tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and alliums are among the easiest spring bulbs to grow in pots. You can even get a long display by planting a bulb lasagna.
Choose deep pots and fill them with a well-draining potting mix, such as this organic potting mix at Burpee.
David Denyer, an award-winning florist and flower expert at Eflorist, describes containers as a ‘good option’ for spring bulbs, but advises that it is ‘essential’ that any pot has drainage holes at the bottom to prevent waterlogging.
‘I'd also suggest raising pots slightly off the ground with pot feet or bricks, so they don't sit in water all winter,’ he adds. You can get a pack of strong, rubber pot feet at Walmart.
Planting bulbs can be tiring and repetitive, especially if you’ve got lots to put into the ground each fall. As a former professional gardener who planted thousands every year, I can attest to this.
Thankfully, there are many bulb planting tools available that can make the task easier. Long-handled bulb planters (available at Walmart), dibbers, hori-hori knives, or auger drill bits are among the options available to help make mass bulb planting a more enjoyable experience.
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