Should You Leave Bulb Holes Open Before a Rain? Best Practices for Planting Tulips and Daffodils

A gardener dug 400 holes for tulip and daffodil bulbs, with light rain forecast in two days. He wanted to place bulbs Wednesday, wait for Thursday's rain, then fill holes—hoping the rain would water bulbs deeply without hand-watering.

Why Filling Immediately Is Better

1. Soil settles better when dry. Backfilling dry soil eliminates air pockets around the bulb.
2. Rodent protection. Open holes invite squirrels and voles to steal bulbs. Filled holes deter them.

Rain Will Still Reach the Bulbs

Freshly backfilled soil is loose; any decent rain penetrates easily to 6 inches. If rain is frequent, no hand-watering is needed.

When Your Plan Is Acceptable

If rodents aren't an issue and you don't mind the extra step, waiting for rain won't hurt the bulbs—they'll bloom just as well in spring.