What Is the Correct Way to Plant Tulip Bulbs?

Planting tulip bulbs is a breeze.

Planting your tulip bulbs correctly will ensure beautiful blooms in the spring. Plant tulip bulbs in clusters for a showy effect. Tulips only bloom for a month, so place the tulips where you can enjoy them the most. Plant tulips along the sidewalk or driveway to add curb appeal to your front yard. Even though they will come back every year, some may not, so add new bulbs every fall.

Things You'll Need

• Tulip bulbs
• Plastic bag
• Peat moss
• Garden shovel
• Water
• Mulch

Instructions

1. Store tulip bulbs in the vegetable crisper of the refrigerator. Place them in a plastic bag with holes punched in it for air circulation, which is usually how they are sold. This should be done in early September.

2. Choose a location in your yard where the tulips will receive full sun during bloom season. They require well-drained, fertile and loose soil. Add peat moss to loosen the soil.

3. Plant tulip bulbs in the ground five to six weeks before the first frost when the ground is below 60 degrees. Place the tulip bulbs with the pointy side up, 6 to 8 inches deep and spacing each bulb 6 inches apart. Cover firmly with soil and water thoroughly.

4. Apply a thick layer of mulch to keep the bulbs warm during the winter.

Tips & Warnings

• Tulip bulbs do not need fertilizer the first year.

References

• American Meadows: How to Plant Flower Bulbs
• Send Tulips: Tips for Planting Bulbs
• Gardening Guides: Let's Grow Tulips