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Learning how to plant bulbs in fall is one of the easiest ways to get color in your yard next spring. Tulips, daffodils, crocus, and hyacinths all need a long, cold winter in the ground before they bloom, so the work happens now, while the soil is still workable.
This guide covers when to plant fall bulbs in Indiana, which bulbs to choose, the 7 steps to plant them right, how to keep squirrels and deer from eating them, and what to do if you’re running late.
WHAT’S IN THIS GUIDE
When to Plant Fall Bulbs in Indiana
Purdue Extension says fall bulbs should be planted from late September through mid-October in most of Indiana. That gives the bulbs time to grow roots before the ground freezes. Spring bulbs also need a cold period to bloom. Purdue notes that most need 10 to 12 weeks at 40 to 50°F, which an Indiana winter takes care of for you. Source: Purdue Extension — Autumn Time to Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs
If you’re past mid-October, don’t give up. Roots keep growing as long as the soil stays above about 40°F, so you can usually keep planting into November in central Indiana. More on that below.
The Best Fall Bulbs to Plant
Most garden centers carry the same handful of spring bulbs every fall. Here’s what to know about each:
- Daffodils. The easiest bulb there is. They come back year after year, and animals rarely bother them.
- Tulips. The classic spring bulb, with the most colors. Deer, rabbits, and squirrels love them, so they need protection.
- Crocus. Small and early, often blooming in late February or March. Rabbits and deer like them too.
- Hyacinths. Very fragrant, with thick spikes of flowers. Animals usually leave them alone.
- Grape hyacinths and alliums. Grape hyacinths are tiny blue spikes that spread over time. Alliums are ornamental onions with big round flower heads late in spring. Both are rarely eaten.
Iowa State University Extension says rabbits and deer are “quite fond of tulips and crocuses” but seldom bother daffodils, hyacinths, grape hyacinths, Siberian squill, or ornamental onions. If deer or rabbits visit your yard, plant more of those. Source: Iowa State University Extension — Spring Bulbs Rabbits and Deer Won’t Eat
How to Plant Bulbs in 7 Steps
Here’s how to plant bulbs so they come up strong in spring. Plan on about an hour for 50 bulbs once the bed is ready.
Step 1: Buy firm, healthy bulbs
Squeeze each bulb before you buy it. Purdue Extension says to choose large, firm bulbs and avoid any that are sprouting or moldy. Illinois Extension adds that larger bulbs produce larger blooms. If you can’t plant right away, store fall bulbs in a cool, dry place, away from apples, bananas, and other fruit, which give off a gas that can damage the flower inside. Source: Illinois Extension — Select and Plant Spring-Flowering Bulbs Now
Step 2: Pick a sunny spot that drains well
Illinois Extension recommends at least 8 hours of sun a day for the most blooms. Drainage matters even more. Purdue notes that bulbs adapt to many soil types, but none can handle poorly drained soil, because they rot sitting in water. Skip low spots where puddles form after rain. Source: Purdue Extension — Still Time to Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs This Fall
If you have heavy clay, mix in organic matter first. Illinois Extension suggests about 4 parts soil to 1 part compost. Work in a few bags of organic compost before you plant. Our guide on how to improve clay soil explains why compost works better than sand.
Step 3: Dig to the right depth
Depth is where most people go wrong when they learn how to plant bulbs. Purdue’s rule is to plant about 2 1/2 to 3 times as deep as the bulb is wide, measured to the bottom of the bulb. Illinois Extension puts it in inches:
- Large bulbs like tulips and daffodils: 6 to 8 inches deep
- Small bulbs like crocus and snowdrops: 3 to 4 inches deep
A bulb planter pulls out a neat plug of soil at the right depth in one push, and most have inch marks on the side. For a big bed, it’s faster to dig the whole area out to depth with a flat spade and set all the bulbs at once.
Step 4: Set them pointy end up, in groups
Place each bulb with the pointed tip facing up and the flat root end facing down. Illinois Extension recommends spacing bulbs 6 to 12 inches apart, which leaves room for them to multiply over the years. Plant in groups or drifts instead of single rows for the biggest show of color. A clump of 10 to 15 tulips looks far better than a line of them along the walk. Source: Illinois Extension — Select and Plant Spring-Flowering Bulbs Now
If you can’t tell which end is up, plant the bulb on its side. The stem will find its way to the surface.
Step 5: Fertilize, but skip the bone meal
Illinois Extension recommends mixing a balanced fertilizer into the soil at planting. Purdue suggests a low-analysis balanced fertilizer like 5-10-5 at about 2 to 3 pounds per 100 square feet of bed. Source: Purdue Extension — Still Time to Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs This Fall
Bone meal is the old-school bulb fertilizer, but Illinois Extension warns that natural fertilizers like bone meal and fish emulsion can attract animals that dig up your bulbs. Source: Illinois Extension — Plant Spring Bulbs Now
Step 6: Cover, firm the soil, and water well
Fill the holes back in and press the soil down firmly with your hands or the back of a rake. Then water the bed well to settle the soil and get the roots started. Illinois Extension says that if fall turns dry, keep watering weekly until the ground freezes. Source: Illinois Extension — Plant Spring Bulbs Now
Step 7: Add 2 inches of mulch
Finish with a light, 2-inch layer of mulch. Illinois Extension notes that it evens out winter temperature swings and holds in moisture, so the bulbs don’t heave out of the ground during freeze-thaw cycles. Shredded leaves or bark mulch both work. If you’re buying bags, our mulch calculator tells you how many you need.
How to Keep Squirrels and Deer Away From Bulbs
Squirrels watch you plant, then dig up your tulips the next morning. Iowa State University Extension recommends laying chicken wire or hardware cloth flat over the planted area and holding the edges down with bricks. It also says to plant tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths 6 to 8 inches deep, and firm the soil after planting, since loose, freshly dug soil is easy for them to find. Source: Iowa State University Extension — Keeping Squirrels From Digging Up Tulip Bulbs
Iowa State says to take the wire off in early spring, before the tulip leaves start to come up. Illinois Extension suggests laying the mesh down first and covering it with mulch so it doesn’t show.
For deer and rabbits, the best fix is planting what they don’t eat. Mix daffodils, hyacinths, grape hyacinths, and alliums in with your tulips and crocus, or skip the tulips in spots where deer visit every night.
Is It Too Late to Plant Bulbs?
Probably not. Purdue Extension says that as long as the soil stays above about 40°F, bulbs keep growing roots, and planting late is better than trying to store bulbs over the winter. A bag of bulbs left in the garage until spring will usually dry out or rot. Source: Purdue Extension — Still Time to Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs This Fall
As long as you can still dig, plant them. Late-planted bulbs may bloom a little later or a little smaller the first spring, but they usually catch up the year after. Late fall is also when garden centers mark bulbs down, so it’s a good time to stock up on fall bulbs cheaply. Just skip any that are soft, moldy, or sprouting.
What to Do After Your Bulbs Bloom
Once the flowers fade, snip off the spent blooms, but leave the leaves alone until they turn yellow and flop over. The leaves are feeding the bulb for next year’s flowers, so cutting, braiding, or mowing them early means fewer blooms next spring. Planting bulbs between perennials or behind hostas helps hide the fading leaves. Our guide on how to plant hostas covers a good partner for shady spots.
Planting bulbs is one of the jobs on our fall yard cleanup checklist, along with everything else to do before winter. Wear a pair of work gloves when you handle bulbs, especially hyacinths, which can irritate bare skin.
Frequently Asked Questions About Planting Bulbs
How deep do you plant bulbs?
About 2 1/2 to 3 times as deep as the bulb is wide, measured to the bottom of the bulb. That’s 6 to 8 inches for tulips and daffodils and 3 to 4 inches for small bulbs like crocus.
Which way is up on a bulb?
The pointed end goes up and the flat end, where the roots grow, goes down. If you can’t tell, plant it on its side and the stem will find its way up.
When is it too late to plant bulbs?
When the ground is frozen and you can’t dig. Until then, bulbs will keep growing roots as long as the soil stays above about 40°F. In central Indiana, that’s often into November.
Do you water bulbs after planting?
Yes. Water well right after planting to settle the soil and start root growth. If the fall is dry, water once a week until the ground freezes.
Can you plant bulbs in clay soil?
Yes, if the spot drains. Mix compost into the bed, about 1 part compost to 4 parts soil, and avoid low spots where water sits. Bulbs rot in soggy soil.
Will squirrels dig up my bulbs?
They might, especially tulips and crocus. Plant deep, firm the soil, skip the bone meal, and lay chicken wire or hardware cloth over the bed until early spring. Daffodils are rarely bothered.
Sources & Further Reading
- Source: Purdue Extension — Autumn Time to Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs
- Source: Purdue Extension — Still Time to Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs This Fall
- Source: Illinois Extension — Select and Plant Spring-Flowering Bulbs Now
- Source: Illinois Extension — Plant Spring Bulbs Now
- Source: Iowa State University Extension — Keeping Squirrels From Digging Up Tulip Bulbs
- Source: Iowa State University Extension — Spring Bulbs Rabbits and Deer Won’t Eat