Green thumbs, it’s that time of year. Time to start preparing your spring garden.

Planting your bulbs is a pre-spring ritual for every one who enjoys dabbling in the garden and this year we thought we’d share some insight for those who might be less experienced.

Although we don’t have an active Starts at 60 garden, we found some of the best hints, tips and even old wives’ tales to help you prepare your garden for Spring. Feel free to add other tips to the list so we can all enjoy beautiful blooms this Spring.

Choose and prepare your bulbs well

There are some things you need to look out for when you’re buying your bulbs. By simply doing a physical test on what they feel like, you can learn a lot about their health.

Bulbs should be firm, not soft or withered. If it feels too light, it could be dead inside and dried out. If it is soft, it could have a fungal disease. Make sure it smells healthy and isn’t physically damaged.

Make sure they are a good size. Bulbs that are too small won’t flower properly in their first year. If the bulb has a smaller one attached (common with daffodils) it is likely that the second bulb will flower in the second year.

Some people recommend placing bulbs in the refrigerator prior to planting to encourage early activation and growth.

Plan your planting area

Bulbs need to have a good amount of natural sunlight to help them flower. If you live in a slightly warmer climate they might be able to deal with a little more shade.

You need to have good drainage, so set this up in the soil bed before you begin planting. If you’re worried about the drainage, plant them in pots or a raised garden bed.

Plant them well

Plant your bulbs about two to three times deeper than they are high and plant them with the pointy end upwards. If you’re unsure about which end is the pointy end, plant them on their sides and the stalk will naturally find it’s way up.

Scatter them around so they are about a bulb width apart and look natural when they grow.

Look after them

Once they are planted, you should only need to water them once a day. Look after them and monitor them regularly as they can die if environmental conditions aren’t managed, even after flowering.

Do you have any other tips to help people get the most out of their bulbs this spring? Share your tips and tricks in the comments below…