November has rolled around, and for me, that means one thing: it’s tulip-planting time! Honestly, this is the most important and enjoyable gardening task of the entire month. While the optimal window for planting these beautiful bulbs stretches from now right up until Christmas, I always try to get them into the ground as early as possible. Why? Simple—the sooner they’re tucked into the soil, the earlier we’ll get to enjoy those gorgeous spring blooms. Completing this task early feels like setting up a wonderful surprise for yourself come April.

There are a couple of essential rules to consider when it comes to tulips. The absolute key is good drainage. This isn’t quite as critical if you plan on treating them as annuals—digging them up after they flower—but even then, they’ll appreciate a happier environment. If you have heavy, clay soil, mixing in a good amount of grit or sharp sand before planting will make a huge difference. You’re trying to prevent the bulbs from sitting in soggy soil over the winter, which is a surefire way to encourage rot.

If you intend for your tulips to be permanent residents in your garden, a crucial tip is to plant them as deeply as you possibly can. While that might sound like a lot of effort, it’s worth it. The deeper a tulip bulb is planted, the stronger and straighter the resulting stem will be. This deep planting also helps protect the bulb from erratic temperature shifts and, crucially, encourages it to come back year after year, giving you a reliable display every spring.