Planting and Care of Bulbs: Depth

The general rule of thumb for planting spring bulbs is to plant two to three times as deep as the bulbs are tall. This means most large bulbs like tulips or daffodils will be planted about 15 cm deep, while smaller bulbs will be planted 8-10 cm deep. Planting depth should be measured from the surface level of the soil to the shoulders of bulbs, and to the eyes or crowns of perennials. Distance between plants is measured from their centres.

There are two basic methods of planting. One is to dig individual holes for each plant. This can be done with a garden trowel or one of the special hole-cutting tools called bulb planters. Dig the hole several centimetres deeper than the recommended planting depth and fill to base level with a mixture of loose soil and Breck's Food for Bulbs and Perennials. Then place your plant in the hole and cover it with loose soil. Using your fingers, gently push the soil into position around the plant, so there will be no air pockets where water can collect.

If you are planting a quantity of plants in a single area, you may want to dig an entire bed to planting depth. Then you can locate each plant just where you want it before covering with soil. Press the soil into position around each plant to eliminate air pockets.

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