Adding some color to your garden can be done by planting tulips.Don't worry, planting tulip bulbs is simple if you have never done it before.If you wait until the right time of year, your tulips will bloom during the spring.
Step 1: Prepare to plant the bulbs in the fall.
After the summer weather has faded into fall, it's time to plant your bulbs and start dreaming of spring again.It is much more difficult to dig holes for the bulbs if you plant them before the first deep frost.When the soil is at least 60 F, the bulbs should be planted.Purchase the bulbs and plant them within a week.They should not stay above the ground for too long.If the weather gets cold before the bulbs come up, they will die as soon as the frosts come.They should be in the ground all winter and spring.You can plant your bulbs in early spring if you forget to plant in the fall.The weather will be too cold for bulbs to be planted in April.
Step 2: To plant tulip bulbs, you must choose.
You can get them from a nursery, home and garden store or online.Tulips grow well in most climates.Each bulb will produce a few stems and blossoms.Perennial bulbs will bloom over several seasons.You will need to replant your bulbs after a few years.Choose bulbs that are firm to the touch with a light brown papery skin.Don't choose bulbs that feel dry, flaky or light.It may not grow properly if that's the case.You can still plant soft or shriveled bulbs.The bulbs may be rotten or dead.
Step 3: Where to plant the bulbs is a decision that should be made.
Many people plant tulips along the side of a building.It's easy to control where they come up, since they're planted in rows.As you get ready to plant tulips, figure out where you want to put them.Tulips grow best in areas that are not excessively wet.Tulips come in many colors, so it's easy to plant them in interesting patterns.You could plant a bed of tulips in different colors.A tulip pattern makes sense for your yard.
Step 4: The planting site should be assessed.
Tulips grow in most soils, and you don't need to do much to get it ready for planting.If the soil in your area is very dry or hard, you can wait a day or two to plant tulips.To loosen and aerate the soil, remove weeds and stones and use a trowel or garden fork.
Step 5: There are holes for the bulbs to be dug.
Tulip bulbs should be buried at least 6 inches (15.2 cm) deep to prevent animals from finding them and eating them.Place the holes 4 to 6 inches apart and dig them from the base of the bulb.If you have a 1-inch bulb, you need a 9-inch hole.The deeper the hole, the larger the bulb.As you dig, clear away roots, rocks and other debris that could affect the growth of your tulips.To deter rodents from occupying the hole, you can sprinkle kitty litter, gravel, holly leaves, or bush branches.The trench method can be used if you are planting a lot of tulip bulbs.To place the bulbs in a trench, dig a long one.Make sure you remember where you planted it.
Step 6: Tulip bulbs can be planted.
They'll try to grow downward if they're placed in the holes.Take care not to tilt the bulbs in another direction by packing the soil back into the holes.The more tulips you plant, the more impressive your garden will be when they bloom.For a bright garden full of tulips, plant at least 50 bulbs in your yard.Tulip bulbs can come back more than once.In most climates, the soil isn't good for more than one year of growth, and the bulb only has enough nutrition to bloom once.If you want the tulips to come back after the first year, place some plant food in the holes.
Step 7: The bulbs need to be watered lightly.
Give the bulbs some water after planting.They can begin the process of growing.If they get too wet, bulbs will decay and die.Unless it's extremely dry outside, don't water the bulbs again.There is no need to water the bulbs if the ground is very dry.Newly planted bulbs may rot if the soil becomes sodden.Through the autumn and winter, there should be enough rain.
Step 8: Tulips will grow in the spring.
In the northern and southern hemispheres, your bulbs should have turned into tulips by March or April.