If you want tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and alliums to light up your garden next spring, fall is when you plant. And yes, late October (and even into early November for some bulbs like daffodils) can still work in Chicagoland as long as the soil is workable and not frozen.

The goal is simple: get bulbs into cool soil so they root before deep winter, then sleep through the chill and explode in color next spring.

How to Plant

• Full sun to part sun and well-drained soil. Bulbs hate standing water. If you have clay, loosen soil ~10″ and mix in compost for drainage.
• Plant 2–3× the bulb’s height deep (about 8″ for larger bulbs, 5″ for smaller). Space in clusters or drifts for big color.
• Pointed end up, flatter root end down. (If unsure, lay on its side—shoots will find up.)
• Water after planting to settle soil and start rooting; then let fall rains/snow do the rest.
• A couple inches of shredded leaves helps keep soil temps even and protects during freeze–thaw.

Selecting and Storing Bulbs

When selecting bulbs, skip soft or mushy bulbs (usually dead). It’s best practice to choose clean, firm bulbs for highest success.

Once you’ve purchased bulbs, keep them in a cool, dark, and dry place until you plant. Don’t store anywhere warm/humid, they may sprout. If a bulb has started to sprout, plant it promptly and don’t damage the shoot.

After They Bloom

Keep it simple, do nothing after the flower has bloomed and faded. Let the plant die back naturally and brown throughout late spring and early summer. During this period, the flower bulb will gain back all of the energy spent in flowering and continue its life cycle.

After some time, some bulbs will need to be dug up and divided. Bulbs benefit from feeding with a specific mild fertilizer designed for bulbs. Most general fertilizers are too harsh for bulbs.

If you do not like to see the dying foliage, we recommend planting your spring-flowering bulbs among perennials. As the spring flowering bulbs die back, the summer flowering perennials start to emerge.

There’s still time to plant for tomorrow’s beauty. Visit Hinsdale Nurseries and bring home the bulbs that will brighten your spring.