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Home » Gardening Tips » Tips On Planting Bulbs

Tips On Planting Bulbs

Updated : October 15, 2021

62 Comments

Watch the video below to learn some tips and tricks for planting bulbs in the fall.

Special: Get Paid to Grow Plants from Home… Mine Have Earned Thousands!

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Comments

  1. Karen O'Brien says

    October 17, 2021 at 11:16 am

    After I dig the hole and drop the bulb in, I take a few clippings from my cedar hedge and put them on top of the bulb before filling the hole. If squirrels dig, they smell the cedar and give up. Since starting this process, I’ve never lost any bulbs to rodents.

    Reply
  2. Joe Catania says

    October 17, 2020 at 10:58 am

    Mike should I dig up my lily bulbs now and store them in the garage and replant them in the spring I live in New Jersey

    Reply
    • Mike says

      October 18, 2020 at 7:59 am

      Joe,

      I’m not an expert on them but as long as they are hardy in your zone they should be fine. If they are Canna Lillies they need to be dug and stored above freezing.

      Reply
  3. Joy Maas says

    October 11, 2018 at 8:56 am

    Mike, I love your videos and wealth of information you give for free. I just had to pass on this information about a Deluxe Garden and Yard Auger Set. I work for a city and am in charge of planting about 6000 annuals and perennials each spring. I discovered this auger at a garden show. It has an extender so you don’t have to bend over. I usually till my beds earlier and have them raked out. It makes getting them even and spaced easy. I got mine from Sporty’s Tool Shop. I highly recommend it if you plant a lot of annuals.

    Reply
    • Mike says

      October 13, 2018 at 7:52 am

      Joy, thank you for the tip, we’ll have to check it out.

      Reply
    • Don Perkins says

      October 13, 2018 at 9:10 am

      Where are the donkeys? Why aren’t they helping?!

      Reply
      • Mike says

        October 14, 2018 at 8:53 am

        Don,

        They just keep getting lazier and lazier. We need to get them on video doing something????

        Reply
  4. Thomas Suttles says

    October 10, 2018 at 8:13 pm

    Mike. How do you plant Peace’s & Plum’s from seed.I Have ask this number of times and never got an answer?

    Reply
    • Mike says

      October 11, 2018 at 8:26 am

      Thomas,

      I have no idea, I am not familiar with the plant.

      Reply
      • Clifton Keller says

        October 17, 2020 at 4:38 pm

        I think he is talking about plants in the Genus, Prunus such as Peach, (Prunus persica). Answer. when you can a bushel of peaches, plant all of them 4″ deep near your chicken yard. When they come up use the plants for rootstork. If you let them grow you may be lucky to discover a new variety. GOOD LUCK!

        Reply
  5. Stephanie says

    January 24, 2014 at 11:23 am

    can I plant my tulip and daffodil in the spring? Didn’t get them in this fall?

    Reply
  6. James says

    March 31, 2013 at 3:13 pm

    Mike, Can you do video on growing herbs and Tomatoes?

    Reply
  7. Dan says

    February 9, 2013 at 7:24 pm

    I bought some bulbs at the end of the season last year,
    and lost track of them. I live in Oregon in foot hills
    of Mt Hood at 1150 ft. Can I still plant them or should I wait for spring? We have had some snow but all melted now, but we can still get snow here up to Easter.
    Thanks, Dan

    Reply
    • Mike says

      February 10, 2013 at 2:41 pm

      Dan,

      I’d go ahead and plant them now if you can.

      Reply
  8. Dana harness says

    January 3, 2013 at 4:34 pm

    THANK again MIKE we like how you do thing fast and E-Z have a good one all you guys and gals

    Reply
  9. mahdi says

    October 29, 2012 at 9:31 pm

    Hi
    Is there any one that to know about Roses and its pets
    Iran

    Reply
    • Mike says

      October 30, 2012 at 9:03 am

      Details on rose care here: https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2010/07/pruning-rose-bushes/#

      Reply
    • Cayla says

      October 17, 2020 at 11:15 am

      Thank you for your video. I’ve used the mesh to protect from Voles and glad to know that squirrels like to eat bulbs as well. After watching the video and being really helpful, I clicked some of your other links- Next, I learned about Grubs and how to get rid of them. They have been a problem in my yard. Also, I’ve been thinking about ordering your backyard gardening. I have an acre that I’ve enjoyed landscaping and have been potting up trees and plants to potentially sell but I’m not sure how to get started or if I have the time. Thank you again! Your tips are extremely helpful. It seems to me that you are a kind person to share your knowledge. 😊

      Reply
      • Mike says

        October 18, 2020 at 7:58 am

        Cayla,

        You have time, just start small, do a few kinds of plants and have fun with it. Our members have had an incredible year selling plants this year. Amazing results really.

        Reply
  10. Rachel says

    October 11, 2012 at 1:22 pm

    Mike my mulch has gotten deep on top of my bulbs will this effect there growth come spring?

    Reply
  11. Linda Vessels says

    December 2, 2011 at 7:14 am

    Your teaching methods are perfect for me to follow!!!

    Reply
  12. Matt Horns says

    October 17, 2011 at 3:04 am

    Mix a bunch of powdered cayenne pepper into the soil around the bulbs and squirrels will leave them alone.

    Reply
    • Clifton Keller says

      October 17, 2020 at 4:42 pm

      Interesting comment. Mike do you think it will work? Do you have to do it every year? Deer and squirrels ar problems.

      Reply
  13. Carla says

    July 20, 2011 at 10:34 am

    Mike, loved the video. I’m like a kid in a candy store when I see you’ve posted a new video. They are so informative!!! I’m still thinking about joining your backyard nursery system, but I’m alittle scared. It’s hard to take the leap. If you want, you can try and talk me into it! Ha, Ha! I’m on your mailing list. I live in Dover, Arkansas. Please talk me into it!

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Duston says

      July 20, 2011 at 11:02 am

      Hey Carla it’s Duston, Mike’s son…

      I’ll give it a try (talking you into it) :-). First off, there’s no risk for you.
      If you purchase it, go through everything and find out it’s not for you,
      we’ll give you a full refund no questions asked!

      But I can promise you that you’ll love it. Listen to what some of our
      backyard growers have to say about it…
      http://www.freeplants.com/testimonials.htm

      Reply
  14. kerry says

    April 25, 2011 at 10:48 am

    thanks for all your videos, alot of wisdom i bought my first action hoe thanks to you and i love it
    i did 4 hours worth of weeding in 30 minutes.

    Reply
  15. Rita says

    April 18, 2011 at 8:27 pm

    I always forward your helpful videos to a young landscaper who really doesn’t have all the answers…………Thanks

    Reply
  16. I always forward your notes to a young landscaper who really doesn't have all the answers! Thanks....Rita says

    April 18, 2011 at 8:24 pm

    I always forward your wonderful videos to a young landscaper who really doesn’t have all the answers he professes……..Thanks….Rita

    Reply
  17. shannon says

    April 15, 2011 at 1:51 pm

    Hey Mike I wasn’t sure I would like your program I purchased and I am feeling very excited and overwhelmed all in one. Where to start and I live in a rural area as well in Michigan don’t have a clue what sells or where to start. HELP!!

    Reply
  18. rosie says

    November 21, 2010 at 2:16 am

    Thanks Mike for answering a question i always asked myself when i planted bulbs. Whey don’t the plants look great when they pop up…I have been planting them like you said one here one there, now I know better and I am going to plant some on Monday and I will be planting them next to each other in large groups.
    thank You again! Happy Holidays!!

    Reply
  19. Anonymous says

    November 17, 2010 at 9:13 pm

    LUV IT!!! Look out squirrels!

    Reply
  20. Gail Huffstutler says

    November 12, 2010 at 9:53 am

    Dear Mike,
    I am unable to watch your videos, but enjoy when I can at least read your tips. The deer have me defeated — we planted two plum trees, one has been stripped of its leaves through the summer. I spent a lot of money on bulbs which the squirrels (I think) dug up and ate. I have one rock rose which has had a few blooms, which I spray with a stinky spray to try and keep the deer away, but it has to be renewed each time it rains. I think I’ll just buy some artificial flowers!
    Thanks, anyway.
    Gail

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      November 12, 2010 at 8:09 pm

      Gail, try growing some plants that deer and squirrels don’t like to eat. They generally leave daffodils alone
      but will eat tulips.
      There are more ideas in this article from Mike’s http://freeplants.com website:
      http://freeplants.com/deer-resistant-plants.htm

      Kathy Anderson
      Mike’s Assistant

      Reply
      • mahdi says

        October 29, 2012 at 8:56 pm

        Dear kathy
        I work in a rose greenhouse can you help me with some information
        thank you so much

        Reply
    • Martha says

      March 25, 2011 at 2:27 am

      dig a hole about 8″ deep for your tulips & big enough to accommodate your bulbs. line it with screen wire & re-fill the hole with dirt inside the screen wire & plant your tulips inside there, as it’s probably voals that are in the ground that eat the bulbs. I had 50 one year that grew up, bloomed & fell over, bitten off at the ground by the little thugs. If indeed it was dug up, then it probably was squirrels & in that case you would have to put some screening above ground. Maybe a chicken wire screen would do. Or plant in containers & cover with screen till they start growing in the spring. Good luck.

      Reply
  21. donna gagne says

    November 11, 2010 at 9:17 pm

    Mike, I really like your videos, thank you. The only thing that bothers me is that sometime the video doesn’t run straight through. It keeps hesitating, like the tape has to catch up with it then it will play alittle, then stop again until it catches up again. This is probably hard to understand what I and saying and prehaps someone else can discribe it better. but other then that I really look forward to seeing them and using the info.
    Keep up the good work.
    thanks donna

    Reply
    • Martha says

      March 25, 2011 at 2:08 am

      I found that it takes more time to download on the computer if I use the full screen, & it pauses often, but I put it back on the small screen & it played straight through without taking time out to download. You might try the small picture on your computer & see if it doesn’t stop the pausing.

      Reply
    • Anonymous says

      October 10, 2018 at 10:17 pm

      Donna, the video is “rendering” which means it is just trying to catch up to the speed that it was recorded in…

      Reply
  22. Cindy Shaw says

    November 10, 2010 at 10:43 pm

    Hi Mike:

    Really love the way you cheat, however, I planted about 500 spring bulbs this fall in two segments and unfortunately, between the deer and the crows, my plastic stakes, telling me I planted what where, were pulled out and blown in the wind. So when I went to plant the remaining 200 tulip bulbs, it was by guess and by golly. I had the misfortune of splitting my big allium bulb, so I tucked it together real tight and took 12 tulip bulbs to help hold it together, so next spring, I’ll be buying or making better stakes to know what really is where. But I still need to deer fence my garden until the tulips finally do come into bloom, cause we all know, it’s the deer’s favourite breakfast. Do you think the allium will make it, well I keep you posted in the spring. Thanx for the video Cindy

    Reply
  23. Anonymous says

    November 10, 2010 at 6:03 pm

    Mike –wish I had three friends, I am 89 and all my old gardening pals
    have shovelled off to the blue above — Neil Hunter

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      October 8, 2011 at 9:21 pm

      Oh Neil, your comment was so bittersweet. I garden for people full-time, and a lot of my customers are around your age. I think the greatest reward I get is being able to do for them what they can’t any more! I can’t imagine how hard it will be to have to look out the window and not be able to get my hands in the dirt. It probably won’t happen, though, because I’ll probably just end up as compost one of these days! Until then, I’ll keep plugging along!

      Reply
  24. Chris burd says

    November 10, 2010 at 4:11 pm

    Thanks Mike, your videos have helped me a lot.

    Reply
  25. Della says

    November 10, 2010 at 1:01 pm

    Mike. HELP! I can’t watch the video. I click on the title and nothing happens. I used to be able to watch your videos. Any tips from you or computer savvy people out there? Della

    Reply
    • Martha says

      March 25, 2011 at 2:11 am

      Call a computer repair place & ask them what you need on your computer to see the videos. I’m no expert, but imagine it’s a program that you need to put on your computer. The computer place will tell you what is wrong.

      Reply
  26. Anonymous says

    November 10, 2010 at 12:33 pm

    Thanks Mike

    Always good infomation as usual.

    Bonnie in Newfoundland, Canada

    Reply
  27. Irene says

    November 10, 2010 at 10:48 am

    When is the best time to plant bulbs on my patio in pots

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      November 10, 2010 at 11:43 am

      Here’s an article from Mike’s http://freeplants.com/ website that answers your question:
      http://freeplants.com/spring-bulbs.htm

      Kathy Anderson
      Mike’s Assistant

      Reply
  28. Irene says

    November 10, 2010 at 10:47 am

    Thank you for the great veido

    Reply
  29. Murph says

    November 10, 2010 at 10:37 am

    I need some pointers, on growing “hens and chicks”. I have them planted in stones and dirt, and are on the SW corner of the house, in Wisconsin..

    Thanks

    Murph

    Reply
  30. Shirley Daley says

    November 10, 2010 at 10:27 am

    Thanks so much for the tips!

    Reply
  31. Joyce Mickalson says

    November 10, 2010 at 10:25 am

    Thanks Mike, The drill is a nice touch to save some time. I still would like to know how and when to take starts from my Gunnera Mantis plant. Thank you.

    Reply
  32. Daid Jensen says

    November 10, 2010 at 10:11 am

    Tulips usually do their best for me the first year. Each year in the spring I take pictures of my tulip beds when they are in bloom; then, in the fall I add bulbs that match to each of the beds where needed. That way I maintane or even increase my spring tulip display. A big mass of bulbs is much better than several sparse plantings. I also like to wait until bulbs are marked down to 1/2 price or less and plant in early November.

    Reply
  33. cindy says

    November 10, 2010 at 9:18 am

    Thanks Mike, I needed the tips on bulb planting! I love reading your info, Keep up the good work!

    Reply
  34. dick hoyer says

    November 10, 2010 at 8:45 am

    mike,

    cAN YOU SUGGEST WHERE WE MAY BE ABLE TO BUY SOME crepe myrtle. We are looking for velma”s delight, dwarf style. Thest to be planted on Cape Cod.

    Thanks,

    Dick Hoyer

    Reply
  35. Connie in RI says

    November 10, 2010 at 8:36 am

    Mike, You are the best. Your videos are always so clear, concise and useful.

    Reply
  36. Colene says

    November 10, 2010 at 8:03 am

    I enjoy your short informative videos..thank you!! Are you on FB?

    I’m trying to find you but so far can’t find the right Mike…

    Reply
  37. Annie says

    November 10, 2010 at 7:45 am

    Love it! You are incredibly charming. I can’t wait to see each video you send. Pam is a lucky lady.

    Reply
  38. Vilmundur Hansen says

    November 10, 2010 at 6:37 am

    Thanks for the video

    Reply
  39. Mike says

    November 10, 2010 at 5:45 am

    Hey everybody, it’s Mike McGroarty. Leave a comment if you like. I don’t get on here to answer questions as much as I’d like, I spend a great deal of time on the Backyard Growers Message Board interacting with the members there and I don’t have much time to do anything else.

    Lately I’ve been buying plants from the members. Last weekend I bought $927 worth of Japanese Maples from a member and $365 worth of Harry Lauder’s Walking Sticks from another. The walking sticks were only $3.65 each so I grabbed 100 of those and the Japanese Maples were really rare varieties and I only paid about $8.00 for each of those.

    What will I do with them? I’ll plant them in my nursery and sell them for at least $75 each once I’ve grown them out. Some of the Japanese Maples I’m sure I’ll get $150.00 for those.

    Our members are doing an incredible job of tracking down wholesale deals on really rare, hard to find plants and they are selling them to their fellow members at really low prices and the nice thing is you can buy in small quantities. But you have to be a member of the Backyard Growers Message Board and you have to start by purchasing my Backyard Growing System, then later joining the group.

    Many people tell me that my system has changed their life. We’d love to have you in our club.

    Reply
    • Sonja Choate says

      September 19, 2012 at 6:22 pm

      Mike,
      I just wanted to say thank you for the tips and videos.They have been alot of help.I like your ideas,they have alot of help for me and my husband.Thanks again,Sonja

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Tips on Planting Bulbs - Mike's Backyard Nursery says:
    January 8, 2015 at 10:07 am

    […] Watch the fall flower bulb video here: https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2010/11/tips-on-planting-bulbs/ […]

    Reply
  2. Gardening Tips says:
    October 29, 2011 at 1:26 pm

    Organic Gardening…

    […]Tips On Planting Bulbs | Mike's Backyard Nursery[…]…

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