Today, I want to talk about using a bulb shovel. You know, those handy little tools for planting bulbs? Yeah, those.
So, it all started a few weeks ago. Spring was in the air, and I got this itch to plant some crocuses. I remembered seeing them bloom early last year, and they just made me smile. Plus, I heard they’re good for the bees and other pollinators that are just waking up.

I went to the local garden center, a place I frequent maybe a bit too much. Picked out a bag of crocus bulbs – the mixed color kind because I like surprises. Then, I saw it – the bulb shovel. It looked different from my regular trowel, narrower, with these markings on the side. Figured it was worth a try.
Got back home, bulbs and new shovel in hand. First, I needed to prep the area. This involved some basic stuff – clearing away some old leaves and loosening up the soil a bit with a rake. Nothing too strenuous. I already had other plants there, so I had to be somewhat careful.
Using the Shovel
This is where the bulb shovel came into play. I pushed it into the ground, and it slid in easier than I expected. Those measurements on the side? Super helpful. They showed me exactly how deep to go for the crocuses. I dug a little hole, placed a bulb in, pointy side up, of course, and covered it back up.
- Push the shovel into the soil.
- Wiggle it a bit to make a hole.
- Drop the bulb in.
- Cover it up.
Repeated this process a bunch of times. It went way faster than I thought it would. The shovel made neat little holes without disturbing the soil too much, which I appreciated. And honestly, it was kind of fun, like a little treasure hunt but for planting.
After Planting
After all the bulbs were in, I watered the area. Not too much, just enough to settle the soil. Now, it’s a waiting game. I check on them every day, maybe a little too obsessively. But that’s part of the fun, right?
So, that’s my bulb-planting adventure. The bulb shovel turned out to be a great buy. It made the job easier and quicker, and I feel like it helped me plant them at just the right depth. If you’re planning on planting bulbs, I’d say give one of these shovels a try. You might be surprised at how much you like it. The next step is waiting for the bulbs to flower. And for that, I bought a bag of fertilizer, but that’s for another day.