Bulb Augers for Drills: Bulb Planters | Power Planter (2024)

FAQs

What size auger is best for planting bulbs? ›

A 2- or 3-inch auger is sufficient for planting smaller items like plugs and bulbs. For burying stakes, setting small posts, or planting larger shrubs, opt for a 4-inch or larger auger.

Garden Bulb Trowel

Planting tulip bulbs is easy with a bulb planting trowel. This spring bulb planter is a handheld garden tool with serrated or sharp edges that help it dig deep into the soil. Depth markers on the blade allow you to plant all your bubs at the same depth every time.

Garden augers are incredible tools that fit on the end of a [heavy duty] household drill (I use a DeWalt), and quickly and efficiently drill a 2 or 3” hole for bulbs or for market pack annuals, leaving a little soft soil in the base of the hole.

Auger drill sizes

The size of the drill bit determines the diameter of the hole. 2- to 3-inch bits: Useful for planting bulbs or installing small poles. 6-inch bit: Often used to dig holes for small plants and steel fence posts. 8- to 10-inch bit: Can be used to dig holes for larger plants or 4 x 4 wooden fence posts.

Only Put the Bulb in the Planting Hole. To avoid even the slightest possibility of root burn, never put anything in the bottom of each planting hole under the basal plate of the bulb. In sharp contrast to the horticultural practice of years gone by, fertilizer should never be mixed into planting holes.

After planting, cover your bulb garden with mulch or hay to protect tender bulbs or roots from injury from the cold. In a bitter winter without much snow cover, an extra layer of protection will go a long way in keeping your plants happy.

To trick bulbs such as tulips into blooming, they must be potted, chilled and then brought out into warmth and light, Wolf says. This sequence simulates the bulbs' natural environment - a cold, wet winter followed by longer, warmer days of spring.

Clean out the hole frequently—drill-powered augers work great, but on thick ice, the drill motor can get bogged down by pushing lots of ice shavings up out of the hole. If you frequently pull the auger up while spinning to clear out the hole as you drill, your speed will stay up and your bit won't bind.

Medium/Heavy-Duty Drills (18V - 20V):

They are the go-to choice for DIY enthusiasts and professionals who require a robust tool for a wide array of tasks. Recommended For: Medium-scale gardening and landscaping tasks, drilling into harder soils, driving large screws, and medium-sized auger applications.

I find I can dig one three-foot hole in about 10 minutes, and need a five-minute rest after every four holes or so. Top it off with fresh mixed gas if it's a gas-burning model, or fully charged with a spare battery nearby if it's electric.

Should I use a bulb planter? ›

Why should you use a bulb planter? Save yourself from guessing the right depth to plant your bulbs by using a bulb planter. Using the tool will also avoid more unnecessary disruption to the ground than needed and it will help you to get an accurate sized hole.

Just like flower bulbs that you plant in a garden, the planting time for containers is Fall. Though you might be tempted to fill your containers with soil from your garden, it's better to use a mixture of sandy soil and potting soil, to closely resemble the Dutch soil that is the secret to the success of our bulbs.

It is not necessary to soak bulbs before planting, so you can skip this step. However, some gardeners prefer to soak bulbs as they believe it enables them to establish more quickly.

The general rule of thumb for planting spring bulbs is to plant two to three times as deep as the bulbs is tall. This means most large bulbs like tulips or daffodils will be planted about 6 inches deep while smaller bulbs will be planted 3-4 inches deep.

First, bit size and hole diameter are essential for fencing or landscaping businesses. While you can use smaller augers for planting bulbs and annuals, they won't work for post holes. A 4- to 7-inch auger is about as small as you can use for fences. Even better, look for augers in the 8- to 9-inch category and above.