If the spring bulbs you’ve planted over the years are no longer putting on a seasonal show, it’s not too late to shop and plant for a mood-boosting display of cheery blooms next spring.

October and November are the best months to plant spring bulbs in Northeast Ohio, giving the plants time to develop roots before the ground freezes. Planting too early or planting near the foundation on the south side of a house can result in premature blooming, causing frost damage to the bulbs.

When planning your spring bulb project, find sunny, well-drained planting spots in your garden or landscape. Grouping clusters of bulbs is the best way to create visual impact, whether you’re hoping to create a large planting bed or adding a few small or medium-sized flowering clusters.

Garden centers and bulb retailer websites offer a wide range of spring bulbs. Tulips, daffodils, crocus and hyacinths are among the most popular, but consider others, such as allium, with their striking pompom flowers, early-blooming snowdrops or late-blooming Dutch iris.

Choose the largest bulbs in each variety and avoid any with soft spots, mold or other imperfections. Larger bulbs produce larger flowers. Be sure to keep them separated by type and marked until planted — otherwise it’s hard to tell them apart.

Read the labels carefully and consider the height of the plants and their bloom time. Aim for a range of bloom times — early, mid- and late-spring — if you’d like to have color throughout the season.

Always plant bulbs with the pointed side up. Read and follow package instructions carefully to determine the appropriate planting depth and the distance between bulbs. Mix compost and fertilizer into the soil before planting and water weekly until the ground freezes, then cover with a 2-inch layer of chopped leaves or mulch to prevent freezing and thawing that can damage the bulbs.

Ohio State University Extension educators suggest adding spring bulbs to perennial flower beds. The spring flowers will emerge first, and they’ll start to wither naturally just as the perennial plants emerge. It’s important to let the bulb foliage die back naturally to replenish bulb nutrients, and the new budding perennials will help to conceal the withered plants.

If squirrels, chipmunks and other pests are likely to disturb your newly-planted bulbs, try placing a strip of chicken wire or plastic garden mesh over the planting area before mulching. Don’t forget to remove it when the bulbs start to sprout in the spring.

Tulips are delectable treats for squirrels, but you may find that daffodils, alliums and hyacinths are less likely to be devoured. OSU educators also suggest dipping tulip bulbs in a commercial taste repellent before planting — surprisingly, rodents can smell untreated bulbs, even when planted several inches below the surface.