Steps To Plant

It is very simple to plant a Daffodil Memorial Garden and you will be amazed at what a meaningful activity it is for your organization. You can always start small and add to the Garden year by year. We will guide you every step of the way.

(Please note: Daffodils bulbs and plants should not be eaten.)

WHERE AND WHEN TO PLANT

Choose a location that can be cared for and maintained as a Holocaust Memorial Garden.

Daffodil bulb planting takes place in the Fall. (October-December depending on your location/climate).

The Daffodil bulbs need to be planted prior to the first frost/snow.

It is easier to plant in an already established bed, otherwise you will need to till and add planting soil.

Select a location that is mostly sunny.

How to Get daffodils?

We supply the daffodil bulbs to ensure they are counted toward the overall project goal and that they are the correct shape and color for The Daffodil Project.

We donate and supply the first 250 bulbs at no charge and ask that you also purchase a minimum of an additional 250 bulbs. Daffodil bulbs are available at $75 per 250 bulbs (plus a $25 shipping fee).

Note that the cost for the daffodils, plaque and stand are through the daffodil project, the planting soil, mulch, and tiller rental would be through a garden supply company.

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Pricing Tool

Below is a pricing tool that you can use to determine your planting costs based on the number of daffodils you want to plant in increments of 250. Use the tool by entering your information in all the top white cells below.
Costs billed by the Daffodil Project are highlighted in yellow.

For new sites we provide a Daffodil Project plaque and stand for installation at your location. You may order additional plaques and stands through our site, or alternatively, you can create your own plaques or stands.

Daffodils will be shipped directly from our supplier at the correct time for planting.

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Below is a Zone map that we use to determine which daffodils we will be sending to your location.
While planting bulbs in most locations works extremely well, it’s been more difficult to plant bulbs in Zones 9-12. For these zones, we are recommending silk daffodils to be planted that will count towards the overall goal of planting 1.5 million daffodils. You may order silk daffodils at our site.

Planning & Maintenance

  1. 1-3 Months Ahead
  2. 2 -4 Weeks Prior
  3. 2 -5 Days Prior to the Planting
    • Identify a Location for your Memorial Garden
    • Sign the Daffodil Project Partner Agreement
    • Contact Us to Order your Bulbs
    • Develop Planting Program and Use/Print curriculum materials from the Curriculum Toolbox
    • Arrange for Volunteers and gardeners to help with the planting
    • Prepare the Soil
    • Use Landscapers/groundskeepers/volunteers to help with soil preparation

How big an area is needed?

  • You do not require a large space to plant the bulbs.
  • For every 250 bulbs, you will need approximately 30 square feet in any combination

How to plant bulbs

  • Plant the daffodils 3-4 inches deep and 2-3 inches apart.
  • Plant approximately 7-10 bulbs in a 1 ft circle with 1-3 bulbs in the center.
  • Wait until all bulbs have been planted prior to covering with soil and then mulching

Video of how to plant daffodils:

How to prepare the soil and plant the bulbs

Ask your landscapers/groundskeepers/volunteers to prepare the soil for planting 2-5 days prior to planting

If you do not have access to landscapers and need to go the DO IT YOURSELF route, arrange for volunteers to help with the project.

For every 250 bulbs, you will need:

  • A plot of land measuring approximately 30 sq ft.
  • Eight 1 cubic ft. bags of planting soil (@ $5 per bag at your local garden supplier)
  • Four (2 cubic ft. bags) of mulch (@ $4 per bag at your local garden supplier)
  • Approximately 20 hand shovels for planting
  • Till the soil using a rented tiller if needed (@$40 from your local Home Depot/garden supplier)

What on-going maintenance is required?

Once you have planted, mulch and water the bed. There is very little further maintenance.

Once the daffodils bloom, they should be left to yellow and wither (otherwise they will not be able to produce flowers the following year).  Dead heading is recommended for the best re-flowering but is not required. Fertilizer is not needed if you mulch your bulbs annually with 2-3 inches of an organic mulch.

Ideas for a successful planting event:

Invite a Holocaust Survivor to plant bulbs and to speak.

Explain the significance of the planting of the bulbs and the meaning of The Daffodil Project.

Consider lighting memorial candles.

Invite children to help plant.

Dedicate the memorial plaque at the time of planting or when the daffodils bloom in the spring.

Incorporate additional curriculum ideas available on our website.

Purchase and distribute Holocaust Remembrance bracelets. The bracelets serve as a tangible and ongoing reminder to “Never Forget”.