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Plant bulbs in clusters
Rob D. Brodman
Clusters
How to plant bulbs
Tip from the test garden

Plant daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips for spring bloom.

Where fall temperatures regularly drop below 32°, plant in October and November; in warmer climates, plant into December or January.

Choose a sunny bed with well-draining soil.

For clusters

• Using a trowel, dig holes to a depth roughly 2 to 3 times the bulb’s width and 4 to 8 inches apart, depending on the bulb type (about 4 to 6 inches apart for hyacinths and tulips, 6 to 8 inches for daffodils).

• Set a bulb in each hole, root end down, and fill in around it with soil.

Plant bulbs in drifts
Rob D. Brodman
Drifts
For drifts

• Dig a trench to the depth recommended above.

• Scatter the bulbs, then adjust them so they’re spaced the desired distance apart.

• When the bulbs are in place, fill the trench with soil.

More: Bulbs, from crocuses to hyacinths to daffodils and more — a guide to choosing and caring for your favorite bulbs

Published: October 2007