Before we get too carried away with all things fall… Thanksgiving gatherings and holiday shopping…let’s take a giant leap into Spring 2027 and talk about one of my favorite things…
Any guesses….
What requires planning now, planting next month, but you don’t get to enjoy until next spring?
Spring Flowering Bulbs!
Most of our lawn and landscape activities bring feelings of immediate satisfaction. On days when I mow the lawn, I get a deep feeling of accomplishment. When I’m finished, there are clean, crisp lines. Sharp edges. No leaves. No debris. I can step back, take a breath, and let the feeling of a job ‘well done’ sink in. The same is true about planting a new shrub, mulching a bed, or adding fresh pansies.
But spend an afternoon planting spring flower bulbs and the feeling of accomplishment is replaced with the feeling of anticipation!
Early spring, as green leafy tips start popping up from the soil, anticipation starts to build. Daily, you take a quick gander to see if more leaves have emerged. Then one day you notice a stem or two starting to grow between the leaves, increasing the anticipation of the colors to come. Suddenly, one day you notice a little color starting to show on a closed flower. From that point, every day you anticipate a flower exploding with spring color. The day it does, all the hard work months ago, all of the building anticipation, is suddenly replaced with a feeling of accomplishment!
Spring bulbs have never been known for instant gratification.
Search ‘anticipation,’ and you will find pictures of tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths announcing spring.
The most vibrant colors you will enjoy next spring require planning now and action next month to experience next spring.
Let’s answer a few questions so you can have dynamic color next spring:
If you have problems with deer eating your flowers, plant daffodil bulbs. Daffodils contain a bitter substance that deer won’t eat.
Tulips at the Myriad Gardens.
Let’s answer a few questions so you can have dynamic color next spring:
When to plant?
Spring blooming bulbs need to be planted from early November through mid-December. They are best planted after the first freeze, which in central Oklahoma typically occurs the first week of November. And, because spring bulbs require winter chilling for successful blooming, it is best to plant them within 6 to 8 weeks after the first freeze. Planting later may greatly diminish your success.
Daffodils are a spring blooming bulb that is very forgiving of our tight clay soils and are perennials in our area (meaning they will come back year after year).
Where to plant?
Bulbs require well-drained, rich, organic soil. They do not perform well in the native, tight clay soils that dominate central Oklahoma. All spring-blooming bulbs prefer full sun, but because they grow and bloom while trees are mostly dormant, you can have success planting under deciduous trees. Tulips perform best in the cooler temperatures north of Oklahoma but still can put on quite a show well into Texas. Daffodils and hyacinths are consistent when it comes to early spring color in central Oklahoma.
How to plant?
Bulbs should be planted at a depth of two times their height, or approximately 3-4”. Shallow planting exposes cool season bulbs to summer heat. Plant with the rounded end down and the pointed end up. Bulbs do not need to be fertilized when they are planted. But if your soil is not rich in organic material, I recommend mixing in compost when planting.
Tulip colors are nearly limitless. A great local show of tulip colors is the Myriad Gardens.
Spring bulbs have a dynamic impact when planted in mass.
Are spring blooming bulbs annuals or perennials?
Tulips in central Oklahoma are best used as an annual - meaning you will want to replant them every fall. You will have some repeat blooming the first year or two, but they diminish in results each year. If you don’t replant every fall, plan on replanting at least every two to three years. Our tight soils and warm summer soils are not ideal for bulbs to act as perennials. Daffodils and hyacinths are much more forgiving of our soils and can perform well as perennials. One key to improving the perennial nature of bulbs is to never plant over the bulbs. This creates problems for me as I typically use bulbs in my annual color areas, so I treat tulips as annuals and replant each year.
Can I dig and store bulbs over the summer?
Yes. Lift the bulbs from the soil after the foliage has completely turned brown using a pitchfork. Dust off as much soil as possible. Store in a cool, dry place for the summer.
One of the best tulip displays every spring is the Myriad Gardens. Go ahead and set a reminder in your phone to take a tulip walk in March 2026.
Hyacinths are known for their adding a burst of purple, blue and pink tones to the late winter and early spring landscape.
When do they bloom?
Hyacinths will bloom first in late winter to early spring. Daffodils bloom next in early spring. Tulips come in three bloom periods – early, mid, and late spring. Early spring tulips bloom at the same time as daffodils. The danger with early spring bloomers is the chance their delicate petals will be short-lived due to a late freeze. Late-blooming tulips also run the risk of a short bloom period because a few windy and warm days will put an early end to the show. I try to use mid-spring blooming varieties as much as possible, or if the area I am planting is large, I will plant tulips from each bloom period to extend the color show.
What colors are available?
Hyacinth comes in bluish-purple, white, buttery-yellow, soft blue, and fuchsia. Daffodils are traditionally white and yellow, but you will find shades of orange, pink, and cream. For tulips, the varieties and colors are nearly endless, with new kinds arriving every year. I have tried many varieties and colors over the years, but I’m a traditionalist when it comes to tulips. It is really hard to beat a red, white, or yellow Darwin Hybrid tulip on a bright March day. Darwin Hybrids are mid-spring bloomers that come in many colors and are known for big blooms. They are also one of the best at returning in years two and three if you want to use them as a perennial.
Are bulbs deer and rodent proof?
If you have problems with deer munching on your flowers, consider planting daffodil bulbs. Daffodils are deer- and rodent-proof because they contain a bitter substance called lycorine that mammals won’t eat.
A great site to view all the colors of hyacinths, daffodils, and tulips is www.colorblends.com. Their website is an endless source for bulb information, planting tips, and design ideas.
Start planning now.
Be ready to plant in November.
Enjoy next spring!
You will never regret planning ahead and planting spring-flowering bulbs!
Lorne Hall
Hall | Stewart Lawn + Landscape
405.367.3873