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Gardening is one of our favorite pastimes as a people. It relaxes us, beautifies our homes, and is good for the environment. But to have the best gardening experience and reap the benefits that come with this activity, you need the right tools. One of the tools you need is the bulb planter. With this simple yet effective tool, you can tend to your garden with minimal fuss. You can save yourself a lot of backbreaking work and optimize your garden’s aesthetics. You should note, however, that not all bulb planters are built equal. And with the wealth of options available on the market today, deciding on which bulb planter to get may not be easiest. And so, we have made a list of our favorite bulb planters in 2023 to help you make a decision.
Buying Guide for the Best Bulb Planters
We should all be gardeners, maybe not as a profession but at least as a hobby. The benefits of this age-old activity are well documented. There is something comforting and enormously satisfying about tending to plants and seeing them sprout and bloom over the years, through thick and thin. And as a species, we owe this debt to the environment that has supported us so well over the years. Without the right tools, however, gardening can be a tedious and frustrating experience. For it to be as rewarding as we all know it can be, or at least as we’ve seen it depicted, we need to stock up on the right gardening tools. One of those tools you need to be a successful gardener is a bulb planter. This buying guide shows you what it takes to choose the perfect bulb planter for you. So sit back and enjoy the ride.
What Is a Bulb Planter?
A bulb planter is an essential gardening tool used for conveniently digging holes for planting bulbs and other plants. If it’s equipped with a soil-release feature, you can also use a bulb planter to put soil back into the hole you’ve dug after you have planted your bulbs. Most bulb planters also feature depth markers to accurately determine the depth of the hole you have dug. The best bulb planters are easy-to-use tools that don’t require much of a learning curve and can be used by amateur gardeners and professionals alike. Bulb planters can be manually operated or can come with electric or battery-powered drills attached. Bulb planters can also be long- or short-handled.
Long-handled vs. Short-handled Bulb Planters
Both the long-handled and short-handled manual bulb planters work similarly. You exert a measure of force to drive the tool into the soil/dirt, twist it, and pull it out. The difference between these styles is the length of the handle attached. With the short-handled planters, you have to bend to reach the soil. With the long-handled models, however, you can reach the soil and operate the tool without bending as much. This results in a lot less strain on your back, saving you a great deal of effort, pain, and making your gardening experience that much easier. To enjoy the full benefits a long-handled model offers, though, you need one that’s well constructed. The higher torque generated around the neck could mean a poorly constructed long-handled bulb planter would snap far more easily than one with a shorter handle. Also, short-handled models are better suited to more compact soil as they typically let you apply more force more comfortably.
Manual vs. Electric/Battery-powered Bulb Planters
Bulb planters are traditionally spring-loaded contraptions that you operate by manually pushing into soil, and these usually come in various shapes and sizes. These work well enough, but you have to expend a degree of energy to operate them, especially with dense/compact soil. These days, with our good friend technology, bulb planters with electric or battery-powered drills are available. The downside to these is that these electric or battery-powered models can only work for as long as there’s a source of electricity or power in the battery. This could mean a limited range of use, and it could also mean that you have to deal with progressively declining battery life over time. These models are also significantly more expensive, predictably.
What Are the Important Features To Look For in a Bulb Planter?
This section covers those features you need to consider when shopping for a bulb planter. Since the manual models are by far the more common ones, a lot of the information available here would apply more intimately to these models.
Construction material
Most of the best bulb planters have bodies made from stainless steel, carbon, or boron steel, and these are usually coated and treated for rust resistance. They are also designed to prevent soil sticking so soil can fall back into the hole you have dug very easily when it’s time to fill the hole back in. The material your planter is made from determines how much work you can get done with it, how easily you can work, and what sort of soil you can work with. If your soil is more compact, like clay, you need to get the strongest models, as most common planters may not work great with this.
Another thing to pay attention to is what your bulb planter’s handle is made from. Bulb planter handles can be plastic, wood, or metal. The sturdiest option would be a model with a continuous metal handle that’s made of the same material as the body of the planter. But these can be uncomfortable to use, so some people prefer plastic or wooden handles.
Handle design
Asides from what the handle is made from, what the handle looks like is also an important consideration. Standard handles are usually small, granting you easy access to all parts of your garden space. But this often means you’d have to be crouched over when working, which isn’t ideal for your back and neck. Longer handles sort this problem but may not grant you the precision the standard handles provide.
Dimensions
Bulb planters come in various sizes. To choose an appropriately sized planter, you need to pay attention to what you would be planting, how big the holes you intend to plant, and the size of your garden. You should consider parameters such as the diameter and depth of your bulb planter before making a choice.
Depth marker
Bulb planters with depth markers make it very easy to determine the depth of the hole you have dug, giving you more precise control over your planting.
Soil release
Planters with adjustable soil release make it very easy for you to fill holes you have dug. It is not an essential feature, but it is one that could markedly improve your experience if present.
Here Is/Are the Best Bulb Planters
Flora Guard Bulb Planter
– Best Overall
This bulb planter by Flora Guard is designed for comfort and efficient transplanting. It has a spring-loaded handle that makes it easy for you to use. It’s made from reinforced chrome-plated steel and is suitable for use with hard to penetrate soil. It has an adjustable soil release feature for filling the holes back in after planting your bulb. Another great features is the bulb planter’s depth markers so you can accurately determine the depth of your hole. The planter is 9 inches tall and has a 5-inch wide handle and a 2.5-inch diameter base.
Pros
- Made from reinforced steel and is suitable for use on hard soil
- Has an adjustable soil release and depth marker
- The ideal planting tool for planting tulips, daffodils, and other flower bulbs
Cons
- You can’t use the planter with hard clay soil
Berry&Bird Garden Bulb Planter
– Runner Up
The Berry&Bird Bulb Planter is carefully constructed for long-term use. It’s well suited to planting and transplanting bulbs and flowers like tulips, daffodils, lilies, day lily, saffron, scallions, dahlias, iris, gladiolus, and onion. Additionally, the product has a depth marker that gives you precise control over the depth of your hole. The bulb planter features a strong and sharp notch that lets you penetrate soil easily, saving you a lot of time and effort. Berry&Bird offers a 30-day free replacement and a 2-year limited warranty on this product, so no need to worry about breaking anything!
Pros
- Features a depth marker that lets you accurately determine the depth of the hole
- Has a notch that’s designed for easy penetration
- 30-day free replacement and a 2-year warranty with this product
Cons
- Does not come with a soil-release feature
Edward Tools Bulb Planter
– Honorable Mention
The Edward Tools Bulb Planter has an automatic soil release mechanism with reinforced steel for easy digging in heavier soils. Its lifetime warranty ensures that any bending or breaking will be replaced free of charge. This Bulb Planter also includes a depth marker, making it easy to plant bulbs at the proper depth for better root development and long-lasting flowers. This depth marker also ensures more consistent planting depths, preventing accidental overwatering or underwatering of bulbs. With this helpful feature, you can get the most out of your tulip, daffodil, lily, and dahlia bulbs.
Pros
- Sturdy and durable
- Easily digs through resistant soil
- Can be used to plant vegetables, herbs, and annual plants
- Ergonomically designed handle
Cons
- Not suitable for planting large numbers of bulbs quickly
Yard Butler Bulb Planter
– Contender
The Yard Butler Bulb Planter is carefully engineered to give you a comfortable experience. It has a long handle so that you don’t have to bend so much to get your planting done; this saves you a lot of strain on your back and promotes your overall health. Its simple twisting action means you can dig the perfect hole very easily and quickly. The bulb planter is made from durable powder-coated steel and is certain to hold up well to use. The product is 37 inches tall, 9 inches wide, and weighs a convenient 4 lbs. You can use this planter for planting all kinds of bulbs and bedding plants.
Pros
- Long handle that protects your back
- Sturdy powder-coated steel construction makes it durable
- Very simple to use and saves you time
Cons
- The product doesn’t come with a soil-release feature
Burpee Steel Bulb Planter
– Also Consider
The Burpee Steel Bulb Planter is the ideal solution for your bulb planting needs. It has a comfortable wooden handle that makes your planting easy and efficient. The planter has a steel body with a hammertone finish that lets you penetrate soil easily without bending or breaking your tool. The product weighs only 1 pound, so you can handle it easily and conveniently while having total control over the depth of your hole. Additionally, this product is extremely durable, but it comes with a 5-year warranty just in case something does break.
Pros
- Features a wooden handle designed to give you the best planting experience
- Has a steel body with a hammertone finish for durability and efficiency
- Provided with a 5-year limited warranty
Cons
- Doesn’t come with soil release or depth marker features
DREC Bulb Planter
– Also Great Option
The DREC Bulb Planter and Transplanter is the ideal tool for planting flower bulbs all year round; it’s also a hole digger for plants, flowers, and perennial bulbs. It has a depth marker that lets you determine the depth of the hole you dug very easily. The product features a spring-loaded adjustable handle for quick soil release and easier gardening. Another plus is that it’s made from rust-free and reinforced material, so the product is durable and sturdy. The package includes a mini shovel made from durable plastic. The planter measures 9.2 x 5 x 2 inches and weighs only 0.6 pounds.
Pros
- Has an adjustable, spring-loaded handle with a soil-release feature for comfortable use
- Made from rust-free material and includes a depth marker
- You get a mini shovel with this planter
Cons
- The planter is not built for heavy use
People Also Asked
Q: Do I need a bulb planter?
A: If you are serious about gardening and want to have the best possible experience, you should get a bulb planter. Sure, you can make do without one, but why put yourself through so much stress when you can get one for so cheap?
Q: Do I need an electric bulb planter?
A: Electric bulb planters are very easy and convenient to use, but you can make do with a manual model if you don’t want to spend so much on a planter.
Q: Should I get a planter with a shorter or longer handle?
A: Long-handled bulb planters are better for your back and neck, but they are not as precise as short-handled ones. If you have a back problem, then long-handled planters are definitely better for you.
