10 Easy Pieces: Bulb Planters

Squirrels make it look so easy. But digging a deep, narrow hole to plant bulbs can be a challenge.

Bulb planting tools reduce the hard work by grabbing dirt in a cone when they are pushed into the soil, creating a bulb-ready hole. The simple rule of thumb I was taught is that bulbs need to be planted in a hole about three times as deep as the bulb is wide. Simple short-handled hand bulb planters are perfect for small planting jobs. For bigger jobs or particularly stubborn soil, get off your knees and consider a foot-powered, long-handled bulb planter.

Make the job easier this fall. Here are ten of our favorite bulb planters, from modern to vintage (like the one in the top photo, via Etsy).

Hand Bulb Planters

Above: The Burgon & Ball Steel Bulb Planter is endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society. It features a deeply serrated edge for easy insertion into dirt, as well as convenient depth markings; $27.95 from Terrain.

Above: The Sneeboer Hand Bulb Planter is handmade in Holland of solid stainless steel; $89 at the Garden Tool Company.

Above: The Joseph Bentley Short Handled Bulb Planter is stainless steel with a wood handle, and features a 4-inch scale to measure planting depth; $59.99 through Amazon.

Above: Made of boron steel with a hardwood ash handle, the Small Bulb & Crocus Planter by DeWit measures 10 inches in length and creates holes about 1.5 inches in diameter. DeWit Tools has been producing hand-forged Dutch garden tools in the north of Holland since 1898; $20.99 at Amazon.

Above: The Hand Bulb Planter by Ames has a wooden handle; $4.56 at Hardware World.

Long-Handled Bulb Planters

Above: The DeWit Double-Handled Bulb Planter enables you to make a hole and deposit the bulb in one step: “Simply place a bulb into the cone-shaped reservoir created by the blades, drive the blades into the ground, and open.” The ash handles are 30 inches long, and the hinge doubles as a step for foot-driven power; $87.36 at Amazon.

Above: The hand-forged Traditional Bulb Planter features a one-piece stainless steel digging end and a wide T-handle. It has a convenient footstep to help power the tool into the soil; £89.95 from Sarah Raven.

Above: Bully Tools’ Bulb Planter with Stainless T-Style Handle has a 9-inch long coring tube with a 26-inch steel stem; $24.48 from The Home Depot.

Above: The Joseph Bentley Long Handled Bulb Planter features easy-step tread edged wings for your feet; £29.99  through Amazon UK.

Above: A Burgon & Ball Long Handle Steel Bulb Planter has a tempered, stainless steel blade and a hardwood handle; $57.95 at Terrain.

If you’re adding to your collection of lifetime-quality garden tools, see more Garden Tools in our newly updated 10 Easy Pieces posts. Don’t miss:

• 10 Easy Pieces: Weeding Forks
• Wondering what to plant this fall? See Squirrel-Proof Crocus
• 10 Easy Pieces: Compost Turners
• Gardening 101: How to Plant a Bulb