Did you see any gardens last spring that had gorgeous flowering bulbs? You know, tulips and daffodils? These are spring-flowering bulb, and, what might seem counter-intuitive, they’re planted in the fall. The only caveat is if you live in a warmer climate—spring flowering bulbs need some winter “chill time” in order to bloom, so if you don’t have a cold winter in your region, you can opt to treat these bulbs as annuals, or chill them in the refrigerator over the winter months.

Know your frost date: Bulbs should be planted about six weeks before that date, or when the soil temperature is 60 degrees. In most areas of the United States, that will be in September or October. Your local nursery or extension office should be able to give you that information.

Choose your bulbs and your location: Great spring-flowering bulbs include hyacinth, iris, daffodil, tulip, crocus, alliums, amaryllis and gladiolus. Most of these bulbs prefer a very sunny location—at least 6-8 hours of full sun a day. Make sure your soil is well-drained, too—if you try to plant bulbs in clay soil, they will rot out fairly quickly.

Dig and plant: Dig a hole about three times as deep as the bulb is wide. For example, if the bulb is 2 inches wide, you’ll need a hole that is 6 inches deep. If you have many bulbs to plant, consider digging a trench instead of individual holes to make the job more efficient. Then place the bulb “root” side up and place soil over it. Lightly tamp it down and water in thoroughly. Keep the bulbs irrigated for the next 5-6 weeks, at which point you can back off from watering through the remainder of the winter. About one month after planting, cover with 3 to 4 inches of straw mulch or leaves—this will protect and insulate the bulbs throughout the cold winter months. Now, just sit back and wait for a fantastic flower display next spring!