Plant a Bed of Spring Bulbs

When to Start: Mid autumn
At Its Best: Early to late spring
Time to Complete: 30 minutes for planting

Materials Needed:

• fork
• spade
• bulb planter or trowel

• chicken wire
• selection of spring bulbs

Prepare to Plant

All bulbs need well-drained soil, so if you have heavy clay, either dig in plenty of organic matter before you start or grow them in pots. You can either plant bulbs individually, using a bulb planter or trowel, or dig a wide hole and plant them en masse, which is an easier method and more naturalistic.

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Dig a Hole

Dig to a depth of about 2–4 times the height of your bulbs. Place the bulbs in the hole with the pointed growing tip facing upward. Discard any that are moldy or soft.

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Cover Bulbs

Fill in the hole with soil, taking care not to damage the growing tips, and firm it down with your fingers. Cover with chicken wire to prevent animals from digging up the bulbs; remove it when the first shoots appear.

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