How Deep and How Far Apart to Plant Spring Bulbs

Bulb depth and spacing chart for tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus, grape hyacinth, allium, snowdrops, and Siberian squill, with bulbs per square foot.

Published 2026-10-06 by ThriveThyme

bulbs how to plant spacing fall planting

The Short Answer

Plant a bulb about 3 times as deep as it is wide, measured to the bottom of the bulb. Large bulbs such as tulips and daffodils go 6 to 8 inches deep. Small bulbs such as crocus and grape hyacinth go 3 to 4 inches deep. Set them pointy end up. Texas A&M AgriLife adds: go slightly deeper in sandy soil and slightly shallower in clay.

Bulb Depth and Spacing Chart

Depth is to the bottom of the bulb. Bulbs per square foot assume a square grid at the middle spacing.

Tulips: 6 to 8 in deep, 4 to 6 in apart, about 6 per sq ft.
Daffodils: 6 to 8 in deep, 6 in apart, about 4 per sq ft.
Hyacinths: 6 in deep, 6 in apart, about 4 per sq ft.
Ornamental allium (large): 6 to 8 in deep, 8 to 12 in apart, about 1 to 2 per sq ft.
Crocus: 3 to 4 in deep, 3 in apart, about 16 per sq ft.
Grape hyacinth: 3 to 4 in deep, 3 in apart, about 16 per sq ft.
Snowdrops: 3 to 4 in deep, 3 in apart, about 16 per sq ft.
Siberian squill: 3 to 4 in deep, 3 in apart, about 16 per sq ft.

Enter your bed size on the Bulb Desk to get a count for each bulb.

Step by Step

Pick a spot with at least 6 hours of sun. Snowdrops and Siberian squill also handle part shade.
Make sure it drains. Bulbs rot in soggy soil. Work in compost if water stands after rain.
Dig when the soil crumbles in your hand. Wet soil packs around bulbs and slows rooting.
Dig one wide hole for a group rather than a hole per bulb. Groups look fuller than single rows.
Set bulbs pointy end up. If you cannot tell which end is up, plant it on its side.
Cover, firm the soil, and water well.
Water weekly in a dry fall until the ground freezes.
Mulch 2 to 3 inches after the ground freezes.

When to Plant

Plant once soil at 6 inches is below 60F. In zones 3 to 8 that is about 2 weeks before typical first frost through 2 weeks after. Zone by zone dates are in when to plant tulip bulbs by zone and when to plant daffodil bulbs by zone.

Layering Bulbs in One Hole

Plant large late bulbs deepest and small early bulbs on top. For example, put tulips at 8 inches, cover with 3 to 4 inches of soil, then set grape hyacinth or crocus and finish filling. You get two bloom waves from one patch.

Sources

Next Steps

Build your list on the Bulb Desk and check off each type as it goes in.