Autumn includes more than general yard cleanup and winter landscape prep. If you're a planner and want to see lots of color in your flowerbeds this spring, try planting a selection of bulbs in late September-early October. Here are some of our favorite flower varieties that, instead of seeds, start as bulbs and are ready for the fall planting season:

Tulips- The tulip bulb produces flowers when spring-like temperatures arrive, and they are available in almost every color imaginable. Tulips can be placed randomly in your garden or as a colorful border.

Iris- Irises are very beneficial to springtime flowers, as they attract pollinators early in the season.

Crocus- This flower (pictured below) is usually the first to blossom in the spring! These tiny flowers add a big pop very early in the season.

Daffodils- Look out for sprouts starting in early March, with white and yellow blooms by April.

Lilies- Tiger lilies are our favorite! They smell beautiful and lily flowers will typically continue blooming until mid-summer.

When selecting which bulbs to plant, a good rule of thumb is the larger the bulb, the bigger the stems and blooms will be. Make sure to plant the bulbs before the ground freezes. Another good practice when planting bulbs is to dig the soil about 2-3 times as deep as the bulb is in length. This way, the bulb will remain protected from extreme cold throughout the winter. It's also a good idea to add mulch over your planting area for optimal protection.