How to plant your tulips

Planting tulip bulbs is a pretty simple way to have gorgeous flowers in the spring! Following a few guidelines, your bulbs will "rest" over the winter months and emerge in the spring with rich, green foliage and beautiful blooms.

If you purchased a group of tulips that were planted in pots and they still have blooms or stems and green foliage, you really have two options: 

1. You can dig a hole in your desired location and plant the whole group right away. Water well and let nature take it's course. Trim the stem only at the base when petals fall off. Prune back leaves when they completely wither, turn brown and dry. The bulbs will go dormant in fall/winter and will grow again the following spring!
   
   
2. You can prep the bulbs for planting in the fall by following the instructions below:
   
   1. Store in a cool, dry place until the bloom and foliage are brown.
   2. Cut off the bloom and foliage.
   3. Remove the dirt and carefully clean the bulbs with a dry towel.
   4. Store in a brown paper bag in a cool, dry place.
   5. Plant bulbs about two weeks before the first frost.
   6. Plant bulbs in well-drained soil.
   7. Dig a hole about six to eight inches deep and fertilize.
   8. Lay mulch over bulbs to help with drainage.
   9. Cut stem at base when petals fall off the bloom.
   10. Prune back leaves once they’re brown and shriveled at the base