Plant hyacinth bulbs in fall, 6 inches deep and 6–8 inches apart, in full sun to part shade. Wear gloves when handling them, since the bulbs can irritate skin.
When to plant
Fall. October in most northern gardens; in the South, wait until cold weather settles in, late October to early January
Depth
6 inches; 4–6 inches in warm Southern gardens
Spacing
6–8 inches apart
Sun
Full sun (6+ hours) to part shade
Water
Water in after planting; keep the bed from staying wet
Soil
Well-drained and rich in organic matter
Step by step
Put on gloves before you open the bag. Hyacinth bulbs can irritate skin.
Choose a spot in full sun or part shade with soil that drains well, since standing water rots the bulbs.
Dig each hole 6 inches deep, or 4–6 inches in warm Southern gardens.
Set the bulbs pointed end up, 6–8 inches apart. Planting them in groups rather than single rows makes the biggest splash of color and scent.
Cover, firm the soil, and water well to settle it and get roots going.
Spread a 2-inch layer of mulch to hold moisture and keep the bulbs cool.
After bloom
Snip off the faded flower spike, but leave the leaves for at least six weeks, or until they turn brown; they rebuild the bulb. Hyacinths come back for years, but from the second year the spikes are usually looser and more open. That's normal. For tight, full spikes every year, plant a few fresh bulbs each fall.
