Planting Tulip Bulbs

Unlike other flowers, planting tulips isn't always as easy as sticking a seed in the ground and covering it up with dirt. For best results, you should plot out where you want them to go and strategically place the bulbs there. Also, replace the bulbs every five to six years; many people think that tulip bulbs should last longer than that, when in all actuality they are considered aged after the first five seasons in bloom. The best time to plant them is in late fall but before the first frost.

It may seem like a complicated task, but planting bulbs is not too bad and is well worth the work. Here are a few tips and steps on planting, so when you are ready to start your own tulip garden you have everything you need!

Dig the Hole

Digging the hole for your tulip bulbs is much easier said than done; dig a hole about ten inches deep and leave the soil at the bottom of the hole rather loose so that air and water can get in and around the bulb in the hole. You can do this by putting back two to three inches of the soil that you dug up in the hole, as that soil will have plenty of air in it.

Planting Tulip Bulbs Into the Hole

There is a right way and a wrong way to place a tulip bulb in a hole that you dig. If you want all of your tulips to come up around the same time, it is best to have them all at an even depth. Place the rounded end into the hole firmly and have the tip pointing straight up to the sky. Don't bury the bulbs too far in that they won't grow, but if the hole is too shallow you will find that your expensive bulbs have become rodent food. They are tasty to little creatures, and unless you plan on feeding the wildlife population, you should find a depth that works for you.

Fill In the Hole

You are probably thinking, “well, duh” about this step, right? Filling in the hole is a necessary step when planting something, but for best results you want to fill in the hole with manure or rich compost. Tulip bulbs require certain things, like nitrogen, to bloom successfully and if you want your bulbs to bloom beautifully this is probably the best idea. Fill in the dirt loosely so as not to jostle the bulb out of place, but pat the top firmly to discourage animals from digging them up. Then, if you want the finished touch, cover the whole bed with mulch to keep moisture in and rodents out.

Planting tulip bulbs can be a bit tedious, especially when planting a lot of them. If you want to plant a few do so—if you want several, you have that luxury as well as they come up year after year after year.