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.