How to Plant Bulbs

Flowering Bulbs

Flowering bulbs like tulips, daffodils, Irisis, Hyacinths are planted in the fall and will bloom in the spring. These bulbs should be planted near the end of September into November when the soil cools below 16 degrees celsius, before the ground freezes.

Choosing high quality bulbs is the first step in ensuring a beautiful spring garden. You’ll want to look for bulbs that are: firm, undamaged, and a good size.

The next step is planning where to plant. You’ll want a sunny to partially sunny spot with well draining soil to prevent rot.

Once you’ve picked the perfect spot you’ll want to plant your bulbs 2-3 times deeper than the height of your bulb. Ex: Your bulb is 2.5″ tall so it should be planted 5″-7.5″ deep. Plant the bulbs with the pointed end facing up. Bulbs can be planted pretty close together as they don’t mind crowding.

Our Pro-tips for Flowering Bulbs

Layering Your Bulbs

After you have planted one layer of bulbs, add 1-2 inches of dirt on top add another layer of bulbs. This will give you a beautiful full garden with varying heights.

Marking Your Bulbs

It’s time to get crafty! Once you have planted your bulbs you might forget where and what you have planted before they bloom. Using a golf tee, hot glue colour coded glass pebbles on top. Stick these markers where you’ve planted and now your garden is organized. You can use these markers on any perennials that die back in the fall so you don’t have to worry about damaging your plants when moving or adding new plants.

Garlic

Planting your garlic in the fall rather than the spring will yield larger harvests in the summer. From mid-October to November is your planting window. The soil should be around 10 degrees celsius usually 2-6 weeks before the first hard frost.

Individual cloves should be planted about 2″ deep and 5″-6″ apart. Adding a thick layer of mulch 3-6 inches deep will ensure your garlic doesn’t freeze. It will also help suppress weeds that can choke your garlic roots. Bark mulch, grass clipping, straw, or fallen leaves will work.

In spring when you start to see the first sprouts you can remove a bit of the mulch so the shoots can get more light. As the shoots grow re-add your mulch to keep a thick 4-6 inch layer.
*Pro-tip: Add a soaker hose into your garlic bed when you remove a small layer of mulch. Keep it in place when adding mulch back on top. Garlic loves water and keeping your soaker hose covered will ensure a deeper watering.

Around June you’ll see the first scapes which are curly shoots that will flower. These should be removed so the garlic will use its energy to grow the bulb instead of flowering. You can leave a few to help indicate when your garlic is ready to harvest. Once the scapes uncurl and stand straight that is your sign.

When you garlic is harvested you’ll want to dry the bulbs in a shady location. Once dried cut off the tops of the bulbs and store your garlic in a cool dry place to avoid sprouting.