I love planting spring bulbs in pots to style by my front door for a seasonal welcome. But filling containers with daffodil, tulip, and muscari bulbs can be fiddly (especially if you're layering them), and I've often found myself doing some guesswork over how deep to plant them – then, I bought a bulb dibbler.
It's a bulb planting tool ideal for container growing because it's much more slender than a large bulb planter and is easier to work with in tight spaces. Take the Burpee bulb dibbler, for example. It's narrow in shape and easy to slot into your pocket while working. The best part is it has a depth marker, so you can be confident you're planting your bulbs in pots of the right size and at the right depth.
I also love using the pointed edge of a dibbler for seed sowing come spring. Really, it's an essential for making fall and spring planting precise and quick. And with the Burpee bulb dibbler having a gorgeous oak finish, it's sure to look good on your potting bench once the planting is done.
This dibbler has a stainless steel point to glide through soil and a comfortable wooden handle. It has a depth marker for bulb planting, as well as a point for seed sowing. It measures 11.5” long, including a 6” handle
Why Use a Dibbler for Pots?
There are lots of reasons why a bulb dibbler is a good choice for planting spring bulbs to grow in pots.
It's narrower than a standard bulb planter tool (like this from Amazon) making it easier to work with in a smaller space. It's much more convenient for punching holes in a tight space without disturbing neighbouring plants and bulbs, keeping your pots neat and tidy.
The other benefit is that many dibblers, like the Burpee one, have a depth marker. Planting bulbs at the wrong depth is a crucial bulb planting mistake to avoid, and there's no doubt trying to balance the different depths in a pot bulb lasagna can become complicated. The depth marker allows you to confidently plant bulbs deep enough.
As mentioned, there are also unusual uses for a bulb dibbler. You can use the pointed tip to make drills for seed sowing, pull up weeds, and to loosen compacted soil. Generally speaking, it's good to have to hand when pottering in the garden.
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With the Burpee dibbler in particular, I love that it has a beautiful, high-quality wooden finish. Styled in a tool caddy (like this green one from Amazon) or on a work bench, it will instantly give your work space a rustic, elevated feel.
Shop More Bulb Planting Tools
Bulb dibblers aren't the only thing you can use to plant bulbs in pots. Here are some of the best options to shop.
This bulb planter tool punches holes in the ground for bulbs. It has a depth marker so you can plant correctly.
This bulb auger drills holes for bulb planting in just seconds. It makes this fall job a lot less fatiguing.
Trowel with Depth Marker
This trowel has a depth marker so you can plant bulbs correctly. Choose between a walnut or oak finish
A bulb dibbler isn't the only fall gardening tool to make seasonal tasks easier. For example, there are plenty of tools to collect fallen leaves, like these hand scoops from Walmart.
Once you're done using any of your tools, don't forget to properly clean your gardening tools. This will limit the spread of pests and disease before you store gardening tools over winter.
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