I Planted 700 Spring Bulbs Last Year
Spring might have felt far away, but I was setting the garden up for a beautiful show by planting 700 spring bulbs! This project had been on my to-do list for a while, and I was excited to finally get them into the ground. Naturalizing was the goal, so I focused on selecting bulbs that will return year after year, creating a dreamy, ever-expanding floral display in my zone 8a garden.
The Kitchen Garden during golden hour (Spring 2025)
Bulb planting is one of those tasks that requires patience but rewards you tenfold when spring arrives. I’ll be planting a mix of tulips, daffodils, and grape hyacinths, each chosen for their ability to naturalize well in my garden. These varieties will blend seamlessly into the landscape, bringing soft, romantic colors to complement my overall garden aesthetic.
Tulips: A mix of delicate pinks, whites, and purples to match my romantic garden palette.
Daffodils: Reliable, cheerful, and perfect for naturalizing and these will pop up year after year with minimal effort.
Grape Hyacinths: Tiny but so cute, these add a lovely blue contrast and multiply beautifully over time.
Since I had a total of 700 bulbs to plant, I split the work into several days, giving myself plenty of time to enjoy the process without feeling overwhelmed or soar from all the digging. I documented the process in this video below.
Kitchen Garden (Spring 2025)
The Planting Process
With such a large number of bulbs, efficiency was key. I used the trench method an a bulb auger to help dig holes quickly which was an absolute game-changer ! Here’s how I went about it:
Digging the Holes: Using the auger, I drilled multiple holes in clusters to create a natural-looking arrangement. I do love the trench method but I felt like I moved faster with the auger.
Placing the Bulbs: Tulips went about 6 inches deep, daffodils slightly deeper, and grape hyacinths just a few inches below the soil. I also used bone meal and compost in some areas
Covering & Watering: Once everything was in place, I covered them up and let nature take over! Luckily there was rain in the forecast so I did not have to water.
Why Naturalizing?
The beauty of naturalizing bulbs is that they require very little maintenance while increasing in numbers each year. I want the garden to feel organic and abundant, with flowers returning year after year without me having to replant them constantly.
I’m especially excited to see how the daffodils and grape hyacinths spread over time, creating drifts of color that get better with each passing season. The tulips I used are Hybrid Darwin tulips called Mystic Van Eijk. Darwin tulips are known for perennializing and sometimes produce more blooms the following year. The goal at the time was for them to do just that, but sadly they hardly came up in year two.
Kitchen Garden (Spring 2025)
Kitchen Garden (Spring 2025)
Looking Ahead
I wish I could say I’m done with major planting projects, but there is still more to come. This season gave me a bit more clarity. I’ve realized that daffodils are my favorite spring bulb, not just for their beauty, but for their reliability year after year.
I really hoped the tulips would give me another show this season, so I was a little disappointed when they didn’t. But it’s part of the process, and it’s helping me discover how I want to move forward.
With that said, I want to focus more on plants that naturalize. Things that return on their own and settle into the garden without needing constant replanting. I want a garden that becomes easier to care for over time, so I can spend more time enjoying it.
