7 Flowering Bulbs To Plant In September For A Showy Spring Garden

With a little planning in the fall, a dazzling display of blooms will emerge when your garden awakens in the spring. September is a great time to plant bulbs for a spring bloom because as the temperatures cool, the soil stays warm. It also leaves enough time for roots to develop before winter arrives. Bulbs need a period of cold temperatures—up to 14 weeks—to trigger flowering in spring, and planting in September gives them the time they need in dormancy. Once planted, bulbs don’t need a lot of attention, just a layer of mulch for insulation and some watering during prolonged dry periods. Take a look at these bulbs to plant in September to plan for your spring garden now.

Care After Planting Bulbs

Mid-September is a good time to plant many bulbs, once soil temperature is consistently 60ºF. Once planted, make sure to water the bulbs thoroughly. Cover the area with a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch to insulate them from the cold. Monitor the bulbs and use a pest repellent to keep hungry squirrels from digging up the bulbs and eating them. If there’s little rainfall, make sure to water the bulbs. Once the ground freezes, there’s no need to water them during winter.

Daffodils

Whether white, yellow, pink, orange, or salmon colored, when daffodils (Narcissus) emerge in the spring, they add cheer to a bare landscape. Their nodding star-shaped blooms are some of the first to announce warm weather is on the way. Plant the bulbs in full to partial sun in rich, well-draining soil that’s acidic to neutral (6.0-7.0). In frost-free areas, you may need to chill them for six to 12 weeks before planting to ensure they have a cold period. Deer and rodents typically don’t bother daffodils, and they’ll come back bigger and better year after year.

Allium

These ornamental onions (Allium) add color and whimsy to the spring garden with their tall, globe-like blooms. In warmer regions, delay planting bulbs until late fall or even early winter. In adequate growing conditions—sunny locations with well-draining soil—allium will bloom just as other flowering bulbs like tulips are fading. Make sure to plant in dry to medium slightly acidic soil (5.5-6.5). These dramatic blooms attract pollinators and grow well in rock gardens.

Tulip

If you just plant tulips (Tulipa) in fall, your spring garden will still have lots of variety, from showy blooms to classic shapes so you can choose one type for a mass planting, or mix and match for a cottage feel. They come in a rainbow of colors: red, orange, purple, pink, yellow, green, and even black. Plant them in mid- to late-September in cooler zones in full sun and well-draining soil.

Grape Hyacinth

Plant clusters of grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum) for a flush of bright color in mid-spring. Named for the violet bell-shaped blooms that resemble grape clusters, these hyacinths do well in full to partial sun in well-draining soil that’s slightly acidic to neutral (6.0-7.0). Grape hyacinths will spread, so you can divide them every few years to expand your spring garden.

Crocus

Make sure you are planting spring-blooming crocus (Crocus) since some varieties bloom in the fall, and plant them in early September to provide decent chill time. Crocus blooms early in the season, often before winter weather is gone, and you may see them peeking from snow-covered flower beds. While these flowers actually grow from corms rather than bulbs, they are planted and grow similarly to other spring bulbs. Plant them where they will receive ample sunlight in well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral soil (6.0-7.0). Tuck these small flowers along the edge of a path or even in the lawn for pops of color.

Summer Snowflake

These dainty white flowers grow well under trees and along streams, so plant them in moist wooded areas where other plants can’t thrive. The drooping blooms of summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum) appear in mid- to late-spring, around April to May. These bulbs spread to form large clumps so you can divide them in summer or early fall to expand your garden over time or share them with friends. They tolerate a variety of soils, including clay, as well as a range of pH levels, from acidic to neutral to alkaline.

Spring Starflower

Spring starflower (Ipheion uniflorum) grows to just 6 inches tall with delicate, star-shaped, pale lavender or blue blooms, making it a good choice to perk up pathways and flower beds. These bulbs form clumps that quickly naturalize in woodland gardens or lawns. Give them well-draining soil and full to part sun. Control their spread by digging up and removing any bulb offsets.