Plant in Fall, Enjoy in Spring: A Guide to Bulbs for Northern Nevada

Some of the best spring gardens are planted when there’s not a flower in sight. Fall is bulb-planting season, and if you’ve ever admired a yard filled with tulips, daffodils, gladioli, lilies, crocus or alliums in early spring, there’s a good chance the work actually started months earlier.

For Northern Nevada gardeners, fall-planted bulbs are also a great way to add color to your landscape without adding a lot of work during the busy spring gardening season. Plant them now, let winter do its thing, and wait for the show that arrives just when you’re itching to get outside into the sunshine.

Why Plant Spring-Flowering Bulbs in Fall?

Many of our favorite spring-flowering bulbs need an extended period of cold before they can grow and bloom properly. That makes our Northern Nevada winters particularly useful in an otherwise harsh climate.

Bulbs planted in fall have time to begin establishing roots before winter. They then spend the cold months dormant underground and emerge as temperatures warm in spring.

Some popular choices include:

• Daffodils
• Tulips
• Crocus
• Alliums
• Hyacinths
• Grape hyacinths (Muscari)
• Gladioli

Choose a variety suited to a location that serves their needs in your yard by considering sun exposure, and desired bloom time. Mixing bulbs that bloom at different times can keep the show going much longer than planting a single variety.

When Should You Plant Bulbs in Northern Nevada?

You don’t need to rush outside on the first cool September morning.

Spring-flowering bulbs are generally planted after temperatures have cooled in fall but before the ground freezes solid. Cooler soil helps keep bulbs from putting too much energy into above-ground growth before winter.

Our Northern Nevada weather rarely follows a perfectly predictable calendar, so stay in tune with conditions rather than relying on one magic planting date. If the soil is still easily workable, it’s still an acceptable time to plant.

Location Matters — Especially Drainage

Before digging, look at where water goes in your yard. Most bulbs don't appreciate sitting in soggy soil. A spot with good drainage can be particularly important during winter, when stagnant, wet conditions can encourage bulbs to mold and rot.

Consider sunlight, too. Many spring-flowering bulbs perform best with plenty of sun, south facing. Remember that areas beneath deciduous trees may receive considerably more sunlight in early spring before they leaf out which won’t suit flowers long term.

How Deep Should You Plant Bulbs?

Always check the planting instructions for the particular bulbs you purchase, but a common guideline is to plant bulbs at a depth of roughly two to three times the height of the bulb.

In general:

Pointy end goes up. Roots go down.

And if you can't figure out which end is which? Don't panic. Bulbs are remarkably good at figuring out which direction is up. After planting, replace the soil and water well to help settle the ground around the bulbs.

Skip the Lonely Tulip

One bulb here. Another bulb six feet away. Another hiding behind a shrub, they'll grow—but you may not get the impact you imagined.

For a more dramatic spring display, try planting bulbs in tiered groups, clusters or drifts. Even a relatively small planting can make a big visual impact when the flowers appear together. You can also combine bulbs with different bloom times.

An early crocus display might be followed by daffodils and then later tulips or alliums. Instead of getting one quick burst of spring color, you can create a succession of blooms.

And, Yes, You Can Grow Bulbs in Containers Too!

Don't have a big garden bed? Bulbs can easily grow in containers. Decorative and whimsical containers can be a fun way to experiment with different combinations and bring spring color to patios, entryways and other small or transition spaces.

Northern Nevada gardeners do need to remember that a container doesn't insulate bulbs the way the ground does. Pots experience greater temperature swings, and repeated freezing and thawing can be hard on both bulbs and containers.

Choose containers that tolerate winter conditions, provide excellent drainage and consider a protected location during severe weather.

One of the Biggest Bulb Mistakes Happens AFTER They Bloom

Your tulips or daffodils put on a gorgeous spring show, then the flowers fade, and suddenly those floppy green leaves aren't nearly as charming.

Don't cut them off yet.

After flowering, the foliage continues photosynthesizing and sending energy back into the bulb. That stored energy helps support future growth and flowering. Let the foliage remain until it naturally yellows and begins to die back.

One trick is to plant bulbs among perennials that emerge later in spring. As the bulb foliage starts looking tired, the surrounding plants can help disguise it.

What About Tulips Coming Back Every Year?

This is worth mentioning because not every bulb behaves exactly the same.

Daffodils, crocus and many alliums can be dependable repeat performers when they're happy in their location. Tulips can be a little less predictable. Some varieties return and flower for multiple years, while others are often treated more like annual displays because flowering may diminish over time.

If having bulbs reliably return year after year is important to you, look for varieties known for naturalizing or perennializing.

Plant Now for a Spring Surprise

Fall gardening doesn't have to be all cleanup and preparation for winter.

Sometimes it's about burying something that looks completely unimpressive in October and forgetting about it—until a patch of color suddenly appears after a long Northern Nevada winter. That's part of the fun!

Whether you plant a handful of daffodils near the front door, fill a container with layers of spring color or start an entire bulb bed, a little time this fall can make spring a lot more colorful.

Happy planting!