Autumn is the perfect time to get ahead of garden maintenance, preparing lawns and flowerbeds to thrive through winter into the next year. It’s also time to prepare your plants for next spring, and there’s one flower bulb you should consider planting now.
Gardening expert and TikTok creator Ish urged fellow gardeners to turn their attention to their tulip crops, saying now is the perfect time to get them ready for flowering. He shared some easy steps to ensure your tulip bulbs are ready to go. Ish said: “It’s time to plant tulip bulbs. Tulips are incredibly easy to plant up and enjoy in late spring time so pop some in your pots or in the ground.”
Ish pointed out that the leaves were falling off his acers, which he said indicates the perfect time to plant tulips for next year. He said: “Tulips, unlike other spring bulbs, have to be planted a little bit later. Reason being, they’re slightly later in terms of when they come out to flower, and if you do it a little too early, there’s a chance they can slightly rot.
“They don’t like too much moisture but they do love the cold. And late October all the way through until early December is the optimal time to get these planted.”
You can either plant tulips in the ground or in a pot. Ish recommended planting the bulbs two to three times the height of the bulb itself.
He explained: “As a result, it will stay anchored into the ground and nice and solid to give you a tall tulip, but not a floppy one.”
If you’re planting the bulbs in a pot, make sure to leave a small space between them so they aren’t touching. Also ensure that they’re not touching the side of the pot either, as this will protect them from the frost when the colder weather sets in.
If you notice any of the bulbs producing a small green tip, you don’t need to worry about it. Ish advised to cover them and leave them be, as the winter weather will keep them at bay.
Top the bulbs with a generous layer of multipurpose compost. Ish said: “Whether it’s in the ground or a pot, leave it to the elements and it’ll take care of itself throughout till spring.”
To prevent squirrels or other animals from digging up your precious bulbs, Ish suggested covering the soil with some winter annuals like violas or pansies. He said: “Not only does it look nice throughout the winter and stops your pots looking boring, but it stops them from digging through.
“And the cool thing is is that the bulbs are actually strong enough to grow through this and create a beautiful dual layer, which looks incredibly professional, especially for such a simple job.”
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