Above double corona daffodils. 

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Purchase and plant spring flowering bulbs as soon as possible.

When: The ideal time to plant spring flowering bulbs is from late September through October, however you can plant until the ground freezes. With that said, the earlier they are planted the stronger and longer their roots will be plus they will have the adequate amount of chilling months. This gives them time to develop and flower properly. Purchase bulbs now for the best selection, as stores sell out quickly. Select large bulbs, as the bigger they are the bigger the blossoms. They should be free of disease and rot. 

The size of bulb influences flower size. The larger the bulb, the bigger the flowers.

A healthy tulip bulb has it's papery sheath and is blemish free.

This tulip bulb is scarred with disease and is best discarded.

Spring flowering bulbs need good drainage like this raised bed at VanDusen Botanical Gardens.

Where to Plant: Poor or no flowers are often a result of too much shade. Most bulbs should receive at least 6 hours of direct sun a day. For areas with a bit of shade, select daffodils and other types of narcissus. Darwin tulips also tolerate some shade. Good draining soil is essential for bulbs as they will rot in the ground. To increase drainage on clay soils, mix in lots of compost, SeaSoil, well-rotted composted manure. Or plant them in raised beds and planters.

Read bulb labels and tags for name and type of bulb, planting instructions, characteristics and flowering season.

How to Plant: Refer to the instructions on bulb packages for planting depths. Bulbs won’t flower, growth will be distorted or they might just die if they are planted too shallowly or to deeply. Measure the planting depth from the bottom of the bulb to the top of the soil. Generally bulbs are planted two to three times as deep as their width: tulips and hyacinths are set at 6 inches, daffodils 6 to 8 inches. To promote root growth add bone meal according to the instructions and to prevent root rot, sprinkle with a generous dose of cinnamon powder. ​

Protect vulnerable bulbs by planting them in bulb trays and cover with chicken wire, then bury.

Bulb trays also allow for easy removal of bulbs.

Inverted drainage trays pinned to the ground over top buried bulbs also deters critters.

Critter alert! It’s not unusual for critters to dig up and devour their favorite bulbs such as tulips and foxtail lilies. To protect the vulnerable bulbs plant them with daffodils, narcissus, alliums and camas as they don’t find them so tasty.  Another option is to use bulb pans covered with chicken wire. They resemble shallow colanders that protect the bottom of the bulbs from animals and also allow for a quick removal of spent bulbs in spring. They are available at most garden centres and are easy to use. Just dig the hole wide enough to accommodate the pan, add some soil to keep the bulbs in place. Plant bulbs pointed side up, sprinkle with bone meal and cinnamon. Secure chicken wire over the top, then cover with soil. Top with mulch and label so you don’t forget where they are. Remove all bulb remnants, including tulips’ papery skins as it tips off the animals where the bulbs are. Blood meal is often used to deter critters but it is water soluble and must be reapplied after rain. Store bought repellents work, but are also water soluble. Avoid using hot pepper products as it may cause excruciating pain to animals including pets. 

There's no wow factor in a single line of tulips.

A grouping of Banja Luka Darwin tulips offer a splash of bold colour.

​Pretty Bulb Displays: To extend the flowering season select bulbs for early, mid-season and late flowering.  Blooming times are clearly indicated on their packages. To create cool colour combos, make sure the bulbs flower at the same time and don’t forget to check out their heights too, so tall bulbs are place at the rear.
 
A nice display of spring flowering bulbs is achieved by planting lots of them. A few here and there doesn’t cut it, neither does a single row. Space them close together, just a few inches apart at most. Plant in clusters of uneven numbers as a group of four has a hole in the middle, but a grouping of 5 fills in the gap. If you want a line of bulbs, make at least two rows but alternate the bulbs in each row. This will give you a thick band of flowers instead of just a line.

Timing is everything when combining yellow crown imperials and multi-toned pink tulips so they all flower at the same time with the forget-me-nots. Prospect Point, Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC.

Pastels rule in this stunning combo at VanDusen Botanical Gardens of soft pink and light mauve tulips.

For a dramatic and sophisticated display avoid using lots of different colours. Select bulbs with flowers that are in the same colour family for a monochromatic colour scheme such as light pink, dark pink and a mauve pink. Or use flowers in contrasting colours like yellow and red, but just use two colours, not a myriad, as it’s just not as pleasing to the eye.

A checkered lily (Fritillaria meleagris) and Peppermint Stick tulips flower at the same time in April.

A March planter with yellow rose-like ranunculus, yellow Tete a Tete narcissus, blue grape hyacinth and a Delft Blue hyacinth.