Homemade Bulb Planters

Bulb planters make planting tulips and other bulbs easier.

Bulbs are planted in either the fall or the spring. Spring-blooming bulbs such as daffodils should be planted in fall, while tropical bulbs that grow in summer should be planted in spring. Bulb planters are tools used to make planting bulbs easier. These tools are tube-shaped trowels, similar to a soil coring device, that pull soil from a bulb hole. In a pinch, you an make a similar device using a pipe.

Things You'll Need

• 4-inch-diameter metal pipe
• Tape measure
• Marker
• Hack saw
• Mallet

Instructions

1. Measure the length of a 4-inch-diameter PVC pipe. Mark the pipe at a point 18 inches from the end.

2. Cut the pipe in two where you marked it.

3. Hold the pipe upright where you want to plant a bulb. Pound the pipe into the ground to the bulb's planting depth. Typically, this is three times as wide as the bulb at the widest point.

4. Twist the pipe, and pull it out of the ground. The soil will remain inside the pipe, leaving a hole for your bulb to be planted in.

References

• Ohio State University Extension: Buckeye Yard and Garden Almanac
• Mississippi State University Extension: Planting and Care of Bulbs, Corms, Rhizomes, and Roots
• Fernlea Flowers: Horticultural Glossary

Resources

• Garden: Bulb Planters and Augers