Under most conditions, the depth of flower bulb placement should be three times the width of the bulb. In warm, dry and hot climates, as in sandy soil, plant the bulbs slightly deeper to retain moisture. In hard-pack soil, you should plant your bulbs about two times as deep as the bulb is wide. To make the task of planting bulbs a little bit easier than using a shovel or spade, consider using a flower bulb planting tool – which can substantially minimize the amount of time needed to put in your flower garden.
If you want to cut down on planting time, saving hours kneeling in the garden, attach a specifically designed bulb planter, similar to a simple hand-planter, but with a drill attachment, to your power drill. This planting tool easily attaches to a standard drill and is well suited for light to medium weight soils -- less suited to hard packed clay. After attaching the tool to your drill, point the attachment on top of the soil and engage the drill. The stainless steel cylinder digs a 2-inch diameter planting hole, up to 9 inches deep. A similar tool, with a different design is the bulb auger, which digs holes up to 2 feet deep and 2¾ inches in diameter. Find these and similar tools online and often in larger home and garden centers.
If you only have a few bulbs to plant, consider using a spring-loaded bulb planter. Use this hand-held tool by pushing it into the soil and pulling up on the spring-loaded handle, which lifts the dirt, leaving a perfect hole behind. Drop in the bulb, then release the dirt back into the hole and tamp down. Made of steel and high impact plastic, most spring-loaded planters range from 10 to 12 inches long and make a hole from 2½ to 3½ inches in diameter. This type of tool takes a bit of hand strength, so for a lot of bulbs, you may want to consider another option.
If you prefer not to stoop to plant your bulbs, consider using a long-handled bulb planter with a release lever and a steel extension handle. Manufactured by several companies, this type of bulb planter generally has a cone ranging from 6 to 8 inches long producing a 2½- to 3½-inch diameter hole. By holding the plastic grip handles, stepping on the foot rest on either side of the cone and pushing down, the cone digs a perfectly round hole. Several long-handled bulb planters also have a hand-release plunger that enables you to push the soil out of the cone and back into the hole after you drop in the bulb.
If you prefer to use a simple short-handled tool which is really all you need for a few bulbs, consider a short-handled bulb planting tool. With a wood, steel or high impact plastic handle, and sometimes a serrated edge cylinder, short-handled bulb planting tools can range from 10 to 12 inches long, making a hole from 2½ to 3½ inches in diameter. To use this tool, position it where you want the hole and push down. Turn the tool clock-wise and then counter-clockwise a few times to loosen the soil and pull up. You may need to use your hands or a small spade to remove excess dirt from the hole.
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