Containers of Bulbs Add Instant Spring

Hyacinth bulbs fill the air with sweet perfume.

Missing the heavenly fragrance of hyacinths or the brilliant hue of tulips in your garden? Even if you didn't have time to plant bulbs last fall, you can still create pots of your favorite spring bulbs in an afternoon.

So, even if last fall's bulb-planting intentions fell to the bottom of your to-do list, a container garden is only a day away!

Many nurseries and garden centers recognize that you often either don't have the time to plant bulbs in the fall, or you might not have enough space in your garden to include them. To help you out, they offer a timely solution in the form of potted bulbs that you can take home and make your own.

Get more ideas for beautiful bulb combinations.

Tulip foliage is tough enough to handle chilly nights.

Purchasing prechilled and potted bulbs is often the only way many warm-climate gardeners can get the luscious tulips and fragrant hyacinths that they love, because many spring bulbs require weeks of cold weather before they can bloom.

Plant some of the best tulip varieties.
More top tulip varieties.

One of the recognized harbingers of spring, daffodils offer an easy way to get garden color in pots and containers.

See our favorite daffodils.

When repotting sprouted bulbs, like these white Muscari, tightly arrange them for the best effect.

• Select plants that have sprouted but are still in tight bud. Tall plants can be difficult to transplant successfully.
• Slowly acclimate pots of sprouted bulbs that have been kept indoors at the garden center. Set the pots in a protected but unheated area outdoors for a few days before transplanting them.
• Choose a pot with good drainage for transplanting, and use a good-quality potting soil.
• To transplant, carefully tip the bulb and soil out of the pot and replant it in your own container. Plant bulbs closely, so they nearly touch each other, for a lush bouquet effect when they bloom.
• If you purchased a grouping of bulbs that are in one pot, keep the group together. It's best not to separate tender new roots when repotting.
• Water newly planted bulbs well, and move the container to a sunny spot.

See our favorite spring-blooming bulbs.
Learn more about Muscari.