Garden reference
Planting depth guide: how deep to plant bulbs, vegetables, flowers, and trees
Pick a plant to see how deep to dig, how wide to make the hole, and how far apart to space it, measured against the 11-inch blade of our flagship Spear Head Spade. Every depth below follows standard horticultural guidance.
Bulbs
Vegetables
Perennials & Annuals
Shrubs
Trees
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11 in long · 9 in wide
Tulip
About two-thirds of the blade's 11-inch length.
When to plant: Plant in fall, once the soil cools, for spring bloom.
How deep do you plant tulip bulbs?
Plant tulip bulbs 6 to 8 inches deep, pointed end up, and space them 4 to 6 inches apart. The rule of thumb for most bulbs is a hole about three times the bulb's height. Set tulips out in fall once the soil has cooled, and they bloom the following spring.
The blade that makes the hole
Every depth here is easier with a spade that cuts instead of bounces. The Spear Head Spade has a sharpened spearhead blade that slices through clay, roots, and rocky ground. Over 600,000 sold, double patented, and named Best Shovel and Spade by Better Homes and Gardens in 2025.
Shop the Spear Head SpadeHow deep to plant, from bulbs to trees
Tap any question for the full answer, including hole width and spacing.
Bulbs
How deep do you plant tulip bulbs?
Plant tulip bulbs 6 to 8 inches deep, pointed end up, and space them 4 to 6 inches apart. The rule of thumb for most bulbs is a hole about three times the bulb's height. Set tulips out in fall once the soil has cooled, and they bloom the following spring.
How deep do you plant daffodil bulbs?
Plant daffodil bulbs 6 to 8 inches deep, pointed end up, and 4 to 6 inches apart. Larger bulbs go on the deeper end of that range. Get them in the ground in fall, a few weeks before it freezes, so the roots establish for a spring show.
How deep do you plant crocus corms?
Plant crocus corms 3 to 4 inches deep, pointed side up, and 2 to 3 inches apart. They are small, so they sit shallow. Plant in fall and cluster them for impact, since each corm sends up only a few of the earliest flowers of spring.
How deep do you plant hyacinth bulbs?
Plant hyacinth bulbs 4 to 6 inches deep, pointed end up, and 3 to 6 inches apart, going deeper in the coldest regions. Set them out in fall once the soil cools, and they open fragrant in spring. Wear gloves when handling them, since the bulbs can irritate skin.
How deep do you plant allium bulbs?
Plant ornamental allium bulbs 5 to 8 inches deep, depending on bulb size, and 6 to 8 inches apart. The big-headed varieties want the deeper end and a little room. Plant in fall, and the round purple globes rise on tall stems in late spring into early summer.
How deep do you plant grape hyacinth bulbs?
Plant grape hyacinth (Muscari) bulbs 3 to 4 inches deep and about 3 inches apart, pointed end up. These little bulbs are shallow and reliable. Plant in fall and let them naturalize, and each spring they return in spreading drifts of blue, often sending up leaves in autumn first.
How deep do you plant snowdrop bulbs?
Plant snowdrop bulbs 3 to 4 inches deep and about 3 inches apart. They are tiny, so keep them shallow. Plant in fall as soon as you get them, since the bulbs dislike drying out, and they will push up their nodding white flowers while snow still lingers.
How deep do you plant Dutch iris bulbs?
Plant Dutch iris bulbs 4 to 5 inches deep and 3 to 4 inches apart, pointed end up. Plant in fall in a sunny, well-drained spot. They bloom in late spring on slender stems and make excellent cut flowers, so tuck a few extra into the bed for the vase.
How deep do you plant lily bulbs?
Plant true lily bulbs 6 to 8 inches deep, roughly three times the bulb's height, and 8 to 12 inches apart. The deep planting anchors the tall stems and keeps roots cool. Plant in fall or early spring, and plant promptly, because these scaly bulbs have no protective coating.
How deep do you plant gladiolus corms?
Plant gladiolus corms 4 to 6 inches deep and 5 to 6 inches apart, flat root side down. They are frost-tender, so plant in spring after the last frost, and plant a few every couple of weeks for staggered summer spikes. Deeper planting helps the tall stems stand without staking.
How deep do you plant dahlia tubers?
Plant dahlia tubers 4 to 6 inches deep, laid on their side with the growing eye facing up, and 12 to 18 inches apart. They are frost-tender, so plant in spring once the soil warms. In cold regions, lift and store the tubers after the first hard frost.
How deep do you plant garlic cloves?
Plant garlic cloves 2 to 3 inches deep, pointed end up, and 4 to 6 inches apart. Break the bulb into cloves just before planting. Plant in fall, a few weeks before the ground freezes, then mulch. The cloves root over winter and are ready to harvest the following summer.
How deep do you plant anemone corms?
Plant anemone corms 2 to 3 inches deep and 3 to 4 inches apart. Soaking the hard corms for a few hours first speeds sprouting. In mild-winter areas plant in fall; where winters are harsh, plant in early spring. They bloom in a daisy-like carpet a couple of months later.
How deep do you plant crown imperial bulbs?
Plant crown imperial (Fritillaria) bulbs 5 to 8 inches deep and 8 to 12 inches apart. Setting the large bulb on its side keeps water from pooling in its hollow crown and rotting it. Plant in fall, and tall bell-flowered spikes rise in mid-spring. The bulbs have a musky scent.
How deep do you plant Siberian squill bulbs?
Plant Siberian squill (Scilla) bulbs 3 to 4 inches deep and about 3 inches apart. They are small, early, and tough. Plant in fall and let them naturalize under trees and across lawns, where they carpet the ground in nodding blue flowers just as winter loosens its grip.
How deep do you plant ranunculus corms?
Plant ranunculus corms 2 to 3 inches deep, claw-side down, and 4 to 6 inches apart. Soak the corms a few hours first. They are frost-tender, so plant in early spring where winters are cold, or in fall in mild climates, for layered rose-like blooms in late spring.
Vegetables
How deep do you plant a tomato seedling?
Plant tomato seedlings deep, burying two-thirds of the stem, because tomatoes grow new roots all along a buried stem and end up sturdier for it. Pinch off the lower leaves first and space plants 24 to 36 inches apart. Set them out in late spring, after your last frost has passed.
How deep do you plant seed potatoes?
Plant seed potatoes about 4 inches deep, cut side down with eyes facing up, and 12 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart. As the shoots grow, mound (hill) soil up around the stems to keep the developing tubers covered and out of the light. Plant in early spring.
How deep do you plant carrot seeds?
Sow carrot seeds shallow, only 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, in loose, stone-free soil, then thin the seedlings to 2 to 3 inches apart. Keep the surface moist until they sprout. A sowing in mid to late summer matures into a sweet fall harvest after cool weather arrives.
How deep do you plant bush bean seeds?
Sow bush bean seeds 1 to 1.5 inches deep and 3 to 4 inches apart directly in warm soil. Beans resent transplanting, so sow where they will grow. Plant after the last frost, and because bush beans mature fast, a midsummer sowing often still ripens a crop before the first fall frost.
How deep do you plant pea seeds?
Sow pea seeds 1 to 1.5 inches deep and 1 to 2 inches apart. Peas love cool weather, so sow them in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, or again in late summer for a fall harvest. Give climbing types a trellis to run up.
How deep do you plant sweet corn seeds?
Sow sweet corn seeds 1 to 1.5 inches deep and 8 to 12 inches apart. Plant in short blocks of several rows rather than one long row, because corn is wind-pollinated and blocks fill the ears out better. Sow in late spring once the soil has warmed, since cold soil rots the seed.
How deep do you plant cucumber seeds?
Sow cucumber seeds about 1 inch deep, in hills or rows, and thin to about 12 inches apart. They need warm soil, so wait until after the last frost. Give vining types a trellis to climb, which keeps the fruit clean and straight and saves a surprising amount of ground space.
How deep do you plant zucchini seeds?
Sow zucchini and summer squash seeds about 1 inch deep in warm soil, two or three seeds per hill, then thin to the strongest plant. Space hills 24 to 36 inches apart, because these plants get large. Sow after the last frost. A couple of plants will keep a whole household in squash.
How deep do you plant pumpkin seeds?
Sow pumpkin seeds 1 to 1.5 inches deep in warm soil, in hills spaced 4 to 6 feet apart to give the long vines room to run. Sow in late spring so the fruit has the whole season to size up and ripen its rind before the first fall frost.
How deep do you plant lettuce seeds?
Sow lettuce seeds just 1/4 inch deep, barely covered, because they need light to germinate. Thin leaf types to 6 inches and heading types to 12 inches apart. Lettuce likes cool weather and bolts in heat, so sow in spring and again in late summer for a tender fall harvest.
How deep do you plant radish seeds?
Sow radish seeds 1/2 inch deep and 1 to 2 inches apart. They are among the fastest crops, often ready in three to four weeks, so sow small batches every couple of weeks. They prefer cool weather, so spring and fall sowings give the crispest, mildest roots. Thin promptly for good shape.
How deep do you plant onion sets?
Plant onion sets about 1 inch deep, pointed end up, and 4 inches apart, pressing each little bulb into loosened soil. Plant in early spring, since onions size up in response to lengthening days. For big bulbs, keep them weeded and watered steadily through the growing season.
How deep do you plant beet seeds?
Sow beet seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep and thin the seedlings to 3 to 4 inches apart. Each knobby beet seed is a cluster, so thinning is essential for room to swell. Beets like cool weather, so sow in spring and again in late summer for tender fall roots.
How deep do you plant spinach seeds?
Sow spinach seeds 1/2 inch deep and thin to about 3 inches apart. Spinach is a cool-season crop that bolts quickly in summer heat, so sow it in early spring and again in late summer. A late-summer sowing often carries a hardy crop well into cold weather under a light cover.
How deep do you plant a pepper seedling?
Plant pepper seedlings at the same depth they grew in the pot, with the top of the root ball level with the soil. Unlike tomatoes, peppers do not root readily along a buried stem, so do not bury them deep. Space them 18 inches apart and set them out in warm, late-spring soil.
How deep do you plant asparagus crowns?
Plant asparagus crowns in a trench 6 to 8 inches deep, spreading the roots over a low mound and spacing crowns 12 to 18 inches apart. Backfill a little at a time as the shoots grow. Plant in early spring. This is a long-term bed, so pick the site carefully; it can produce for 15 years or more.
Perennials & Annuals
How deep do you plant a hosta?
Plant hosta so the crown, where the leaves meet the roots, sits level with the soil surface, in a hole about twice as wide as the root ball. Space plants 1 to 3 feet apart depending on the variety's mature size. Plant in spring or fall, and give them shade and steady moisture.
How deep do you plant a daylily?
Plant daylilies with the crown about 1 inch below the soil surface, spreading the roots over a small mound in the hole. Space them 18 to 24 inches apart. Plant in spring or fall. Daylilies are famously tough and forgiving, and established clumps can be dug and divided to make more.
How deep do you plant a peony?
Plant peony roots so the pink buds, called eyes, sit only 1 to 2 inches below the soil surface. This is the single most important rule, because a peony planted too deep grows leaves but refuses to bloom. Space plants about 3 feet apart and plant in fall for the best establishment.
How deep do you plant bearded iris rhizomes?
Plant bearded iris rhizomes at the surface, with the top just showing and the roots spread down a ridge of soil in a shallow hole. Burying the rhizome causes rot and poor bloom. Space them 12 to 24 inches apart. Mid to late summer is the ideal time to plant and divide them.
How deep do you plant a coneflower?
Plant coneflower (Echinacea) with the crown level with the soil surface, in a hole about as wide as the root ball. Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart. Plant in spring or fall in full sun. Once established they are drought-tolerant, and leaving the seed heads standing feeds finches into winter.
How deep do you plant black-eyed Susans?
Plant black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) with the crown level with the soil, in a hole as wide as the root ball, spacing plants about 18 inches apart. Plant in spring or fall in full sun. They are tough, long-blooming, and spread into cheerful golden drifts that carry the garden from midsummer into fall.
How deep do you plant ornamental grasses?
Plant ornamental grasses at the same depth they grew in the container, with the top of the root ball level with the soil, in a hole about twice as wide. Space them according to each variety's mature width. Spring planting gives the roots a full season to establish before winter dormancy.
How deep do you plant sunflower seeds?
Sow sunflower seeds 1 to 1.5 inches deep, directly where they will grow, spacing them 6 inches apart for small types and up to 18 inches for the giants. Sow after the last frost. They grow fast in full sun, and successive sowings into early summer keep fresh blooms coming for weeks.
How deep do you plant zinnia seeds?
Sow zinnia seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep and thin to 6 to 12 inches apart. They germinate fast in warm soil, so sow after the last frost, directly in the bed, since they dislike being transplanted. Pinch the first flower to branch the plant, and cut often for more blooms.
How deep do you plant astilbe?
Plant astilbe with the crown 1 to 2 inches below the soil surface, in a hole as wide as the roots, spacing plants 18 to 24 inches apart. Astilbe wants moist, rich soil in part to full shade. Plant in spring or fall, and keep it watered, since it wilts fast when dry.
Shrubs
How deep do you plant a bare-root rose?
Plant a bare-root rose so the graft union, the knob above the roots, sits at the soil line, draping the roots over a cone of soil in a wide hole. In cold-winter regions, set the union an inch or two below grade for protection. Plant in early spring while the plant is still dormant.
How deep do you plant a hydrangea?
Plant a hydrangea so the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil, in a hole two to three times as wide but no deeper than the root ball. Space plants 3 to 6 feet apart. Plant in spring or fall, keep it well watered the first year, and mulch to hold moisture.
How deep do you plant a boxwood?
Plant boxwood with the top of the root ball sitting an inch or so above the surrounding soil, in a hole about twice as wide as the root ball. Boxwood roots are shallow and rot if buried too deep. Space plants 2 to 3 feet apart for a hedge, and mulch without piling against the stems.
How deep do you plant a blueberry bush?
Plant a blueberry bush with the top of the root ball level with the soil, in a wide hole amended with peat or another acidifier, since blueberries need acidic soil to thrive. Space plants 4 to 5 feet apart. Plant in spring or fall, mulch well, and plant more than one variety for better fruit set.
How deep do you plant an azalea?
Plant azaleas and rhododendrons high, with the top of the root ball 1 to 2 inches above the surrounding soil, in a wide, shallow hole. Their fine roots are shallow and suffocate if buried deep. Give them acidic, well-drained soil in part shade, mulch lightly, and never mound soil over the root ball.
How deep do you plant a lilac?
Plant a lilac so the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil, in a hole two to three times as wide. Space plants 5 to 15 feet apart depending on the variety. Plant in spring or fall in full sun with good drainage, and expect the best fragrance and bloom in a sunny, open spot.
How deep do you plant a forsythia?
Plant a forsythia with the top of the root ball level with the soil, in a hole about twice as wide as the root ball. Space plants 4 to 6 feet apart, or closer for a flowering hedge. Plant in spring or fall in full sun, and its arching branches light up bright yellow in early spring.
Trees
How deep do you plant a bare-root fruit tree?
Plant a bare-root fruit tree so the root flare, where the trunk widens into roots, sits at the surface, and keep the graft union several inches above the soil so the tree does not root above it. Dig the hole wide, not deep. Plant in early spring while dormant, and water it in well.
How deep do you plant a maple tree?
Plant a maple or other shade tree so the root flare, the widening base of the trunk, sits at or just above ground level. Dig the hole two to three times as wide as the root ball but no deeper. Planting too deep is a leading cause of young-tree decline. Plant in fall or early spring.
How deep do you plant an oak tree?
Plant an oak so the root flare sits at or slightly above grade, in a hole two to three times wider than the root ball but no deeper. Handle the roots gently, since oaks resent disturbance and establish slowly. Plant in fall or early spring, water deeply while it establishes, and be patient.
How deep do you plant an arborvitae?
Plant an arborvitae so the root flare is level with the ground, in a hole two to three times as wide as the root ball but no deeper. For a privacy screen, space plants 3 to 5 feet apart. Plant in early fall or spring, water consistently the first year, and keep mulch pulled back from the trunk.
How deep do you plant a dogwood tree?
Plant a dogwood so the root flare sits at grade, or an inch high in heavy clay that drains slowly, in a hole two to three times as wide but no deeper. Space trees 15 to 20 feet apart. Plant in spring or early fall, give it part shade and moist soil, and mulch without touching the trunk.
