How Many Bulbs Do I Need? Designing With Fall-Planted Bulbs in Small and Large Gardens

• 6 Daffodil Bulbs per square foot. The exception to this rule are miniature Daffodil Bulbs, which can be planted 9 bulbs per square foot.
• 9 Tulip Bulbs per square foot.
• 7 Hyacinth Bulbs per square foot.
• 16 Grape Hyacinth Bulbs per square foot.
• 16 Crocus Bulbs per square foot.
• 3 Allium Bulbs per square foot for most tall, classic varieties (like Globemaster and Gladiator). Smaller varieties (like Drumstick) can be planted 16 bulbs per square foot. 

How many bulbs can a 4'x6' garden bed hold? (4' x 6' = 24 square feet)

• 144 Daffodil Bulbs
• 216 Tulip Bulbs
• 168 Hyacinth Bulbs
• 384 Grape Hyacinth Bulbs or Crocus Bulbs
• 72 large Allium Bulbs

One of the most attractive things about Fall-Planted Bulbs for small gardens is that they take up such little space. If you're working with a tiny city garden, Fall-Planted Bulbs are an easy way to add big, bold color to the spring garden. They can be planted among your favorite perennials or wildflowers with ease, making it easy to pack in season-long color in a small garden bed.

As you can see, a small garden space can pack a lot of punch with Spring-Blooming Bulbs. Try mixing a variety of bulbs together for a display all spring long, including early Crocus, mid-season Daffodils and Tulips, and late season Allium.

Tulips planted behind Grape Hyacinth

Style 2: Containers

If you're looking for a big statement with few bulbs, containers are a great choice. You can also move them easily to fit your garden style for the season. Standard container sizes are usually about 1 square foot, so confirm the recommended bulb spacing for your variety. You can refer to the recommended bulbs per square foot information above, or on each product page. When planting in containers, make sure you give your bulbs enough room - horizontally and vertically - to grow and bloom!

A big swath of Tulip bulbs makes a huge, colorful statement in the spring.

Always plant the pointed ends of bulbs up.

After: the rainbow of Tulip blooms frame this tree nicely.

Style 2: Creating A Flower Border

• You'll Need 750 Tulip Bulbs

Create a big splash of color to add curb appeal and brighten up your yard! Perfect for bordering the edge of your yard, lining walkways, and adding color to fencelines. Come spring, the colorful blooms welcome guests and passerbys with a cheerful display. 

Trench Planting is a quick, efficent method for planting lots of bulbs!

The spring display was fantastic.

You will have plenty of blooms to cut for endless bouquets!

Design 3: Round Bulb Spiral

• You'll Need 250 Tulip Bulbs

A lot of gardeners like to get creative with their spring-blooming bulbs, and a popular way to do this is to create a bulb spiral. Our co-workers Hazen and Mary brought the spiral to life with  250 Tulip Bulbs, using two contrasting flower colors for interest.

Design 4: Hellstrip Garden

• 200 Miniature Daffodil Bulbs
• 100 Tulip Bulbs

We love how this customer turned her "hellstrip" lawn into a fantastic spring display of miniature Daffodils and Tulips. If you're looking to cut back on mowing and maintenance in your hellstrip, try planting perennial Fall-Planted Bulbs like these Daffodils and Darwin Tulips.

• Focus on grouping bulbs tightly in one small space that is easily visible. Tulips, Daffodils, Allium, and more are some of the most cherished blooms in the garden. And whether you're looking add these iconic beauties to your balcony, front garden bed, walkways, or anywhere in between, a big grouping almost always looks better than individual plantings. 50 Tulip Bulbs grouped in a small garden bed will create a much bigger impact than spacing them all throughout your garden.
• Plant in containers: containers are an easy way to make a grand statement with few bulbs. You can also move them around each year to change your design.
• Plant varieties that will multiply each year, giving you added color and bulbs for free! Some of our favorite varieties that naturalize, or multiply and spread each year, are Dutchmaster Daffodil Bulbs, Grape Hyacinths, and Dutch Crocus.
• Add a little each year. If you know you eventually want your entire house lined with Tulips or Daffodils, plant a batch of bulbs each year until you've made it all the way across. Remember to choose perennial varieties so you won't have to replace bulbs each year.
• Take advantage of our advance sales and bulb bulbs! Once you have a great garden plan, you can make the most of bulbs on sale or bulk purchases!