Planting tulips for your own ‘tulip festival’ can reward you with gorgeous spring color. The best place to start is by studying bulb catalogs. Check for these online, and have them mailed to you. You’ll find a lot of creative inspiration, planting advice, and ideas for color combinations. Your local garden center can also provide tips and suggestions.
Yellow Tulips
Tulips should be planted for masses of solid color. While the reds, yellows, oranges and pinks will be dramatic, white tulips will add a softer touch. Dark colors such as black and deep purples will tone down the drama.
Plant taller varieties towards the back of your bed, and shorter ones in front. Consider interspersing bulbs such as narcissi between the tulips. This can help deter squirrels from digging up the bulbs if they’re a pest in your area.
Order or buy your bulbs by September, and store them in a cool dry and ventilated place. Plant them before the first frost, and plant all of them, as they won’t keep until next year.
Before you plant, consider the soil. Tulips like a looser sandy soil, that drains well. If necessary, add some sand to the area you’re going to plant, or if your soil is heavy and retains moisture, consider a raised bed. Tulips love sun, so the bed should be located in a sunny spot.
So there is room for the roots to develop, the bulbs should be placed 4 inches apart, but planted in a mass. Dig holes, or a large wide hole, about 7 inches deep, and sprinkle in a bone meal fertilizer. Set the bulbs evenly in position, pointed ends up. Don’t worry if some tip sideways – plants will always grow opposite to gravity! Sprinkling a bit of bone meal on top of the planting area will also deter those pesky squirrels.
Vivid multi-color tulips.
Partly fill the hole, and water it thoroughly. Finish covering the bulbs, wash up, and wait for your gorgeous display of spring color.
