With the proper selection, timing, and preparation, you can turn your drab spring lawn into a flowering wonderland! Not all flower bulbs are best suited for growing in lawns, but no worries, we’ve picked out the top 10 for you.
When to Plant Bulbs for Spring Flowers?
For the sake of simplicity, we will be discussing fall planting bulbs only. Bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, narcissus, hyacinths, iris, allium, fritillaria, and scilla require a cold period of at least six weeks to form roots and based on lighting and soil temperature will bloom in the spring when conditions are right.
Fall planting bulbs need to be planted in the ground in the fall before the first hard frost. It is best to wait until the outside air temperature does not reach 65 degrees anymore. If hard frosts are expected in the next couple weeks after planting, do not remove your leaves and let the grass grow taller to help insulate and protect the bulbs.
Early Spring Blooming Bulbs
Snow Crocus Orange Monarch
- Mature height: 3-4"
- Planting Depth: 2-3"
- Planting Time: Fall
- Light Requirements: Full Sun, Partial Shade
- Bloom Time: Early Spring
- Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Snow Crocus Orange Monarch has a chalice shaped flower in brilliant orange with dark red accents surrounded by grass-like green foliage. Crocus bulbs will multiply and come back year after year if left undisturbed (do not mow for about 6 weeks after the flowers have bloomed). Easy to grow in well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Can be planted in the lawn or along planting bed borders for a stunning impact. Very hardy as also known as the "Snow Crocus" it will bloom in a snowstorm.
Crocus Pickwick
- Mature height: 4-6"
- Planting Depth: 2-3"
- Planting Time: Fall
- Light Requirements: Full Sun, Partial Shade
- Bloom Time: Early Spring
- Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Crocus Pickwick has a stunning chalice shaped flower with purple and white surrounded by grass-like green foliage. Crocus bulbs will multiply and come back year after year if left undisturbed (do not mow for about 6 weeks after the flowers have bloomed). Easy to grow in well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Can be planted in the lawn or along planting bed borders for a stunning impact. Very hardy and will bloom in early spring marking the end of winter.
Crocus Joan of Arc
- Mature height: 4-6"
- Planting Depth: 2-3"
- Planting Time: Fall
- Light Requirements: Full Sun, Partial Shade
- Bloom Time: Early Spring
- Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Crocus Joan of Arc has a shallow chalice shaped flower in bright white surrounded by grass-like green foliage. Crocus bulbs will multiply and come back year after year if left undisturbed (do not mow for about 6 weeks after the flowers have bloomed). Easy to grow in well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Can be planted in the lawn or along planting bed borders for a stunning impact. Very hardy and will bloom in early spring marking the end of winter.
Narcissus Daffodils Jetfire
- Mature height: 8-12"
- Planting Depth: 6"
- Planting Time: Fall
- Light Requirements: Full Sun, Partial Shade
- Bloom Time: Early Spring
- Hardiness Zone: 2-10
Daffodils Jetfire blooms with an abundance of color in bunches of golden yellow and bright orange elongated cups in the center of the flowers. Allow the foliage to die back naturally after flowering and these flowers will grow back each spring. Easy to grow in well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Can be planted in the lawn or along planting bed borders for a stunning impact. Deer resistant. Winter hardy. Fragrant. Beautiful cut flower.
Scilla Siberian Squill
- Mature height: 4-6"
- Planting Depth: 3"
- Planting Time: Fall
- Light Requirements: Full Sun, Partial Shade
- Bloom Time: Early Spring
- Hardiness Zone: 2-10
Scilla Siberian Squill produce many star shaped blue flowers with narrow stems and minimal green foliage. Scilla bulbs are deer resistant and easy to grow in well drained soil in full sun to part shade. Water well after planting 3" deep in fall before the ground freezes. Allow the foliage to die back naturally after flowering and these flowers will grow back each spring. Can be planted in the lawn or along planting bed borders for a stunning impact. Winter hardy. Fragrant.
Galanthus Snowdrops
- Mature height: 6-8"
- Planting Depth: 3"
- Planting Time: Fall
- Light Requirements: Full Sun, Partial Shade
- Bloom Time: Early Spring
- Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Galanthus Snowdrops boasts mounds of green foliage with dainty white flowers in a arching chalice shape. Allow the foliage to die back naturally after flowering and these flowers will grow back each spring. Easy to grow in well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Can be planted in the lawn or along planting bed borders for a stunning impact. Deer resistant. Winter hardy.
Narcissus Daffodils Tete A Tete
- Mature height: 6-8"
- Planting Depth: 6"
- Planting Time: Fall
- Light Requirements: Full Sun, Partial Shade
- Bloom Time: Early Spring
- Hardiness Zone: 2-10
Daffodils Tete A Tete is boasts dense miniature blooms with an abundance of color in bunches of bright yellow. Allow the foliage to die back naturally after flowering and these flowers will grow back each spring. Easy to grow in well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Can be planted in the lawn or along planting bed borders for a stunning impact. Deer resistant. Winter hardy. Fragrant. Beautiful cut flower.
Mid Spring Blooming Bulbs
Narcissus Daffodils Ice Follies
- Mature height: 12-14"
- Planting Depth: 6"
- Planting Time: Fall
- Light Requirements: Full Sun, Partial Shade
- Bloom Time: Early to Mid Spring
- Hardiness Zone: 2-10
Daffodils Ice Follies has a large white flower with round yellow center cup. Allow the foliage to die back naturally after flowering and these flowers will grow back each spring. Easy to grow in well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Can be planted in the lawn or along planting bed borders for a stunning impact. Deer resistant. Winter hardy. Fragrant. Beautiful cut flower.
Muscari Grape Hyacinth
- Mature height: 6-8"
- Planting Depth: 3"
- Planting Time: Fall
- Light Requirements: Full Sun, Partial Shade
- Bloom Time: Mid Spring
- Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Muscari Grape Hyacinth produce beautiful purple cone shaped flowers surrounded by grass-like foliage. Hyacinth bulbs are deer resistant and easy to grow in well drained soil in full sun to part shade. Water well after planting 3" deep in fall before the ground freezes. Can be planted in the lawn or along planting bed borders for a stunning impact. Winter hardy. Fragrant. Beautiful cut flower.
Allium Drumsticks Bulbs
- Mature height: 12-24"
- Planting Depth: 3"
- Planting Time: Fall
- Light Requirements: Full Sun, Partial Shade
- Bloom Time: Early Summer
- Hardiness Zone: 2-10
Allium Drumsticks are a burgundy colored flower with an egg shape supported by a single stem with green foliage. Allium bulbs are deer resistant and easy to grow in well drained soil in full sun to part shade. Water well after planting 3" deep in fall before the ground freezes. Can be planted in the lawn or along planting bed borders for a stunning impact. Winter hardy. Fragrant. Beautiful cut flower.
Protecting Your Bulbs from Pests
If you know you have an abundance of deer, rabbits, and other rodents roaming your yard all fall and winter long it is going to be best to select pest resistant varieties. You can also spray them with soap, pepper, or a chemical but unfortunately this tends to wash off after the first rainfall and can be time consuming and costly. Using a wire mesh covering can also prevent rodents from digging the bulbs up. Fencing animals out of the entire lawn is also an option but make sure you use the right size fencing for the critters you are trying to keep out and you may need to bury or stake down the bottom of the fence to prevent rodents from tunneling under it.
Will My Bulbs Come Back Each Year?
If you want to increase the chances of your bulbs flowering each year it is very important to let the leaves die back naturally before mowing them off. The bulbs require a resting period after blooming while they gather nutrients from the soil to store up in their bulb so it can bloom again next year. Your lawn may look a little messy in the late spring, but it is well worth the reward of the beautiful blooms each spring.