Timing Matters: Plant fall bulbs now for spring color

If daylight saving time’s reminder to “spring forward” and “fall back” isn’t confusing enough, those new to gardening may be surprised to learn that fall bulbs bloom in the spring and spring bulbs bloom in the summer or fall. 

This seasonal-based horticultural classification refers to planting time, not blooming time. Understanding which bulbs go in the ground and when is the simple secret to keeping color in your garden throughout the seasons. Fall is the time to plant spring-flowering bulbs such as crocus, daffodils, snowdrops and maybe tulips.

In Zone 8B, gardeners in Middle Georgia have a real advantage: milder winters mean bulbs like daffodils bloom year after year with just a bit of attention. Old homeplaces often have large stands of daffodils that have naturalized and multiplied. 

However, our mild Middle Georgia winters are too warm for bulbs like Dutch tulip hybrids, which require long, cold winters to develop strong flower buds. They may bloom bright and beautiful the first year, but they may not come back in the following years. You’ll have to replant each year.  

So, if you must have tulips, you can treat them like an annual or buy pre-chilled bulbs. Otherwise, you will miss the fall window for planting. Bulbs that require chilling need 8–16 weeks at about 40–50°F — meaning the refrigerator (not the vegetable drawer, which is too humid) may become your temporary “winter.” 

Or you could purchase species that are bred for naturalizing in the South. Still, in our area, daffodils are the real repeat performers. 

Here are three planting tips for bulbs that will flower next spring: 

1. Plant in October through December when soil temperatures drop to around 60 degrees Fahrenheit — To find current local information, check the UGA Weather Network at weather.uga.edu. Put in your zip code to view soil temperatures at 2-6 inches deep. 
2. Prepare the site and soil — Choose a sunny to partly sunny location with good drainage. Work in organic matter if your soil is heavy, and plant bulbs at roughly two to three times the bulb diameter (deeper for larger bulbs). Fertilize lightly at planting and again after bloom to help bulbs replenish energy for next year. Mulch helps to prevent winter heaving and keeps soil temperatures more consistent.
3. Layer bulbs for continuous spring color — Place early bloomers (like crocus and snowdrops) near the soil surface and deeper bulbs (daffodils and larger tulips) below. This vertical “lasagna” technique gives week-by-week interest in smaller gardens and containers. For tulips you plan to keep, consider refrigerating bulbs before planting or planting in pots and chilling them so they get the necessary cold hours. 

Seasonal classification	Because they are planted in ….	So they bloom in….	Includes bulbs such as…
Fall bulbs	Fall	Spring	Allium, Crocus Daffodil, Muscari or Grape Hyacinth,  Hyacinth, Tulips
Spring bulbs	Spring	Summer-fall	Dahlias, cannas, gladiolus

Finally, think ahead: deadhead spent flowers but leave the foliage until it yellows and dies back naturally — that foliage feeds the bulb for next year’s flowers. 

Expect to divide congested clumps every few years to maintain vigor. With the right species and a little planning, Middle Georgia gardeners can enjoy reliable spring blooms year after year.

Upcoming training courses for the Master Gardener Extension Volunteer program will be offered on Thursdays from Feb. 12 to April 30, 2026. 

Please email Kathy at kensley@uga.edu. by Nov. 24 for more information and to apply.

Rosann Kent is a Master Gardener Extension Volunteer for Bibb County Extension.