Few plants spell spring like colorful tulips. But if you want a parade of flowers once winter's over, you have to plan ahead. These elegant blooms—including those with single or double petals as well as lush, peony-like varieties—are relatively easy to plant and maintain, as long as you keep an eye on the squirrels and deer that like to eat them. You just need to plant them at the proper time to get a strong showing.
To see blooms from March through May, you should plant tulip bulbs in the fall, when the weather finally cools down and starts tiptoeing into winter. "As long as the temperatures hover between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, with most temps no higher than the 60s, start planting," says Bobbie Schwartz, an award-winning certified landscape designer and consultant in Shaker Heights, Ohio, who founded her landscape design firm, Bobbie's Green Thumb, in 1977.
But before you don gardening gloves and start digging, consider what type of tulip landscape you might want to see. "Tulips come in almost every color," says grower Brent Heath of Brent and Becky's Bulbs in Gloucester, Virginia, whose family farm raises nearly 200 different types of tulips. Decide on a color scheme, then vary your selection by choosing varieties that open up at successive times from early to late spring. That way, you'll have continuous blanket of tulips until your summer flowers come up.
Read on to learn how and when to plant bulbs that flower in spring, such as tulips and daffodils, in your garden and in containers.
When to Plant Tulip Bulbs
The reason you want to plant tulip bulbs in late fall, sometime between mid-October and early December in most of the country, is that the bulbs need to hibernate for about 12 to 16 weeks before the warm weather arrives to awaken their growth.
Tulips grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9, all but the very hottest and coldest parts of the country. But in zones 8 and 9, which include most of the Southeast and the West Coast, you'll need to make sure bulbs have been precooled (you can buy them that way from suppliers) to ensure they get the 10 to 14 weeks of cold temperatures (about 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit) they require to bloom. Alternatively, you can chill them in the refrigerator before planting as late as early January. As long as you can get that shovel into the unfrozen ground, you can still plant your tulip bulbs.
The main issue with planting tulips late in the season is having to dig into frozen ground–that's why experts recommend getting your bulbs into the ground after the first frost but before the ground freezes. "Planting is time consuming and hard work," Schwartz says. Having soil you can actually dig in "makes the job seem not quite so daunting."
In terms of weather, it's optimal to plant tulip bulbs after a rainy day because moist soil is easier to dig into–just avoid any spot that's too muddy.
Where to Plant Tulip Bulbs
Tulips love full sun and show best if they get six to eight hours of direct sunlight a day. Planting tulip bulbs in the shade can stunt their growth, so make sure the spot you've chosen in your yard receives, at the very least, partial sun.
You also want to avoid planting tulip bulbs anywhere that's soggy, attracts pools of water, or sits right under a tree. "Tulips are beautiful around trees as accents, but remember, tree roots will impede the ease of planting as you need to dig down and roots can add a challenge," says Joan Mazat, cut flower business manager at Ball Seed.
In terms of soil, the pH should be around 6 to 7. "If you have heavy clay soil, consider adding amendments for better aeration and drainage and to allow the bulb roots an easier time growing through," Mazat says. "If you have sandy soil, consider adding topsoil and bone meal to improve quality and texture. Providing some nutrients will be a big help, too."
Other than that, plant tulips wherever you want to see their color. They pair well with other spring bulbs, such as daffodils, allium, and hyacinths. Mazat also suggests planting bulbs near late-summer-blooming perennials. "This will bring in color while the perennials are starting to grow as they put on their flower show later in the season," she says.
How to Plant Tulip Bulbs
Dig a hole that's four times as deep as the height of the bulb or bulbs you want to plant. You can use a bulb planter tool or an auger drill bit to work super fast, Mazat suggests.
If you're planting several bulbs per hole, it should be big enough that the bulbs can fit in it with a few inches (or about three times their width) in between them. Nestle the bulb or bulbs in the soil tapered side up, with the roots on the bottom. It's not necessary to add fertilizer to the hole—instead, top the area with organic compost to improve the soil.
Tulips look best when planted in groups or large swaths rather than one here and there. And following the design principle known as the Rule of Threes, odd numbers of objects in a grouping look more pleasing than even, so we suggest planting at least three to five tulip bulbs per hole. It's also beautiful to plant an entire area—say, a few feet wide and long—for maximum aesthetic impact.
How Can I Protect Tulips from Pests?
Deer and digging rodents, such as chipmunks, love tulips, so you can try to protect the flowers from hungry garden guests by spraying each bulb with an animal repellant before planting. "They smell sweet, so if you mask the fragrance, critters tend to leave them alone," says Heath. You also can spray the buds when they're emerging in the spring to deter deer.
To discourage other animals looking for a snack (they love tulip's juiciness), Schwartz uses enlarged aggregate (Turface MVP) to deter digging. "It is pieces of grit that have sharp edges," she explains. "I put some in the bottom of the hole and a bit more on top of the soil."
Schwartz uses I Must Garden deer repellent. Unlike other repellents that are repulsive to both humans and animals, this one smells nice to you but not so much to deer and rabbits. When spring comes, Schwartz immediately sprays the new leaves. Then, she watches for the flower stalk to emerge just above the leaves and sprays again. She sprays for a third and final time when the bud is fully visible above the foliage.
One strategy all experts take? Overplanting. "Critters are as they are," Mazard says. "I overplant tulip bulbs knowing that I will lose some to my furry friends in the garden."
Do Tulips Come Back Each Year?
For the most part, unlike other spring-flowering bulbs, such as daffodils, that come back year after year, tulips are not really considered perennials. You won't know until the following spring if your tulips will bloom again.
"In certain parts of the country, some types of tulips are perennial and will come back,” Heath says. "But for many parts of the country, they don't bloom again, so we treat them as annuals and plant new bulbs every fall." If you're hoping for reblooming, Schwartz recommends planting a two-toned species like Lilac Wonder or Lady Jane.
To give your tulips their best shot for a return appearance, plant them with other perennials and annuals, which can help keep them from getting too wet (tulips prefer a dry bed during their summer dormancy). You can also try deadheading them, or cutting off the little seedpod, once the petals fall off. Otherwise, the plant puts energy into making seeds instead of next year's flowers. It's also a good idea to remove the foliage about eight weeks after your tulips flower or when it becomes yellow and pulls away without effort. Don't do it sooner, because the plant needs its leaves to make food for next year's blooms (you know, photosynthesis!).
If you hope your tulips will grow again next year but you have to switch their location for whatever reason, you can move the bulbs. First, allow the foliage to die back, Mazard says; the tulips need to complete their growing cycle if possible. Then, dig up the bulbs, brush off any soil, and let them dry. "They can be stored in dry peat moss or wood shavings in a cool dark place, and then replanted in the fall," says Mazard.
Planting Tulip Bulbs FAQs
Do Tulips Multiply?
It depends. Some types are more likely than others to come back and spread, such as species tulips or Darwin hybrids, but it's never foolproof. If you'd love to see your tulips grow exponentially, your best bet is to make sure they're in a location that makes them happy, with plenty of sun and good drainage. (They'll rot in soggy soil.) Also, leave the foliage in place until it dies on its own.
Where Can You Buy Tulip Bulbs?
Local nurseries sell tulip bulbs in late summer and fall. Look for unbruised bulbs, which are glossy and firm; they should have a leathery-looking brownish "tunic," or outer skin, on them. Skip squishy bulbs, and choose ones that feel weighty like a golf ball, not light like a Ping-Pong ball.
You can also buy tulips from online retailers earlier in the season for a wider selection. They'll hold onto your order and ship it when it's time to plant in your part of the country. This is a great option because you can choose from more types, colors, and sizes with varying bloom times. In fact, Schwartz buys all her tulip bulbs online. Her top pick is Brent and Becky’s Bulbs because it has an extensive catalog and accurate photos. For extremely unusual bulbs, she uses Odyssey Bulbs. Other reliable sources she likes are K. van Bourgondien and John Scheepers.
Can You Plant Tulips in Pots?
Planting tulips in pots is a great way to enjoy them if you don't have space in outdoor beds—plus, it's easier to keep rodents away. Fill a pot three-quarters of the way full with soil, place the bulbs shoulder-to-shoulder to fill it, and cover them with soil to the top of the pot. Cover the soil with a piece of chicken wire, then add a layer of mulch. Keep the pot in the shade—or in an unheated space, such as your shed—over the winter, so the temperature remains somewhat stable. Water once when planting, then again in early spring.
Once your tulips pop up in the spring, take them outside into full sun. Just be aware that, sometimes, results are unpredictable: Tulips definitely don't like wild temperature fluctuations, so if your flowers don't bloom well, they may have endured too many freeze-thaw cycles. No worries, just try again next year!
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