Most importantly, you want the soil to be damp—not too wet or dry. “When you’re planting tulip bulbs, you’ll need to provide them with damp and well-draining soil and a sunny but sheltered spot,” says Ivanov. Tulips favor fast-draining soil that doesn’t stay wet for too long. Too wet and the tulip bulbs can rot. On the other hand, if the soil is too warm and dry in the fall or winter seasons, the tulip bulbs can develop fungal disease.
Step 2: Plant in damp soil during autumn
In the fall, ideally around October or November, plant your tulip bulbs about six to eight inches deep. “A good rule of thumb is to plant the bulbs at a depth that is roughly three times their diameter,” says Trautz Awot. Put the bulb inside your freshly dug hole with the pointed side up and top-press the area with compost. “Make sure to plant each bulb in an individual planting hole with enough spacing around each one.”
Step 3: Water
After planting, there’s no need to soak the bulb with water. “Instead, water them well only once after planting and moderately in the spring,” says Ivanov. In spring, you can water once a week to help the flowers establish an elaborate root system. Ideally, the soil should stay damp but not soggy. Too soggy and the bulbs will rot; however, if the soil is too dry, the bulbs may fail to absorb enough nutrients to thrive.
How deep should tulip bulbs be planted?
Plant your tulip bulbs about six to eight inches deep. But make sure your tulip bulbs are at a depth that’s at least three times the height of the bulb, with the pointy end of the bulb up, adds Ivanov. “If you’re working with sandy soil, plant the bulbs a bit deeper to prevent them from drying out.”
Do you have to dig up tulip bulbs every year?
No. But if you do choose to dig them up, allow them to dry. “You can remove any dirt but do not wash them,” says Trautz Awot. “Once dry, store bulbs in a cool dry location with good air circulation.” You can then replant the bulbs next year in the fall.
You can also leave the bulbs in the ground, but don’t expect them to flower again. “If the planting time is correct, most tulip varieties will flower only for one year and, because of that, many gardeners repeatedly plant new bulbs every autumn,” explains Ivanov. In other words, the flowers are kind of like annuals.
Once the tulips bloom, you can deadhead your flowers. “Typically, you can do that around June and July, and it will allow them to direct as much of their energy from their leaves to their bulbs.” Don’t cut back any of the tulip foliage until it has turned yellow. This will happen about six weeks after the tulips have flowered.
How to take care of tulips
Tulips may be persnickety when it comes to planting times, but once in the ground, they are wonderfully easy to care for. They should be planted in fall, before the ground freezes, with the pointed end facing up, in a planting area with full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil, since they do not like excessive moisture, says Wendy Overbeck Dunham, director of horticulture at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Apply clumps of mulch or a slow-release bulb fertilizer when you initially plant your bulbs, adds Cindy Ollig, owner and designer at The Perfect Petal. If you follow these rules step by step, tulips will continue to emerge year after year, as they are perennials like daffodils and hyacinths, other popular spring garden flower, without gardeners having to do very much at all.
