How to plant spring bulbs
Plant daffodils, crocuses, tulips and other spring bulbs in autumn for colour from late winter onwards. The main things to get right are timing, depth and drainage.
- Time
- 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Cost
- Low cost
- Steps
- 7
- Checked
What you’ll need
- Spring bulbs (firm, not soft or mouldy)
- Trowel or bulb planter Search Amazon for bulb planter
- Gardening gloves Search Amazon for gardening gloves
- For pots: peat-free multi-purpose compost and horticultural grit Search Amazon for horticultural grit
- Pots with drainage holes
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Safety first
- Daffodil bulbs and leaves are poisonous if eaten, and some people get skin irritation handling them. Wear gloves and keep bulbs away from children and pets.
- Don't plant in waterlogged soil: the bulbs will rot.
Step by step
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Step 1: Plant at the right time
The RHS advises planting daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths by the end of September and tulips in November, when the colder soil helps reduce the disease tulip fire. Buy bulbs when you're ready to plant and get them in the ground as soon as you can. Bulbs left in bags can dry out or rot.
Next: step 2 -
Step 2: Check the bulbs
Throw away any bulbs that are soft, shrivelled or mouldy. Healthy bulbs are firm, like an onion.
Next: step 3 -
Step 3: Pick a spot
Most spring bulbs like a sunny spot with soil that drains well. Bulbs sitting in waterlogged soil rot. On heavy clay, dig in some grit or plant in raised beds or pots.
Next: step 4 -
Step 4: Dig to the right depth
The RHS rule of thumb: plant bulbs two to three times their own depth. A bulb 5cm (2in) tall goes in a hole 10 to 15cm (4 to 6in) deep. Space them at least twice the bulb's width apart.
Next: step 5 -
Step 5: Plant pointy end up
Set each bulb in the hole with the pointed tip upwards and the flat base (where the roots come from) down. If you can't tell, plant it on its side and it will find its own way. Cover with soil and firm it gently.
Next: step 6 -
Step 6: Plant in groups
Bulbs look best in groups of at least six, or scattered in drifts, rather than in single rows. For a natural look in grass, toss a handful and plant them where they land.
Next: step 7 -
Step 7: Planting in pots
Use a mix of three parts peat-free multi-purpose compost to one part grit for drainage. Plant bulbs at three times their depth, about one bulb's width apart. Water after planting, then keep the compost just moist, not soggy. Once shoots appear, feed every 7 to 10 days with a high-potassium liquid feed, such as a tomato feed.
Tips
- Layer bulbs in a deep pot (a 'bulb lasagne'), with large late bulbs like tulips at the bottom and small early ones like crocuses near the top, for a long display.
- After flowering, let the leaves die down naturally for about six weeks before cutting them off. They feed the bulb for next year.
- Squirrels love digging up crocus and tulip bulbs. A piece of chicken wire over the planting area until shoots appear can help.
Questions people ask
Is it too late to plant daffodils in October?
The RHS recommends getting them in by the end of September, but bulbs planted a little later usually still flower, sometimes a bit later. Plant as soon as you can rather than leaving them in the bag.
How deep should I plant tulips?
Using the two-to-three-times-depth rule, most tulips go about 10 to 15cm deep. Some gardeners plant them deeper to help them come back each year.
Do I need to water bulbs after planting?
In the ground, autumn rain is usually enough unless it's very dry. Bulbs in pots should be watered after planting and kept just moist.
Sources
Checked 9 October 2026. We wrote this guide in our own words, using:
- RHS: bulbs, planting (rhs.org.uk)
- RHS: potentially harmful garden plants (rhs.org.uk)
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Printed from howtoguides.uk/guides/how-to-plant-bulbs/ · Checked 9 October 2026 · General information only. For gas, electrics, structural work, medical, legal or money decisions, use a qualified professional.