November is a great time to get spring-flowering bulbs in the ground in Louisiana. You actually have until early December, but there’s no time like the present. Start by putting together a simple plan: decide which bulbs you want, how many, and which pots or beds they will go into.

Focus on types that perform reliably here. Daffodils and narcissus, including paperwhites, jonquils and many heirloom varieties, are among the most dependable and often return for years. Dutch iris is another solid choice, along with certain specialty bulbs such as selected alliums or sparaxis if you can find them locally. Tulips and hyacinths can also work, but they need extra steps. Buy them now, refrigerate them in a paper bag away from fruit for six to eight weeks, then plant in late December or early January.

You can plant bulbs along the outer edge of pots that already hold evergreen material. Just be careful not to disturb the existing root systems too much. If the pot is completely empty, fill the entire container with bulbs of your choosing.

One thing to keep in mind is that most of these bulbs will not break the soil surface for a few months. That means you could be looking at an empty pot for a while, something no one wants. The easy fix is to plant cool-season annuals such as pansies, violas, dianthus, ornamental kale or snapdragons right over the bulbs after they are in the ground. You’ll enjoy color all winter, and the annuals can be pulled or cut back once the bulbs start pushing up in early spring.

When it comes time to plant, choose a well-drained spot in full sun to part sun. Plant larger bulbs, such as most daffodils, only four to five inches deep and smaller bulbs just one to two inches deep. These depths are shallower than the package usually recommends because our winters are mild and deeper planting can lead to rot. Place the pointed end up, firm the soil gently, and water well after planting.

A little effort this month pays off handsomely when those first green shoots appear, and the garden comes alive with color after a long winter. Whether you stick with reliable daffodils or experiment with a few chilled tulips, the satisfaction of watching bulbs you planted yourself bloom is hard to beat. Get them in the ground now, and you’ll be glad you did when spring finally arrives.