There’s so much to do in the garden in May, but one thing I never forget to do is a simple five-second task Monty Don recommends that results in better tulips every year.
My tulips grow back better each year thanks to Monty Don’s 1 simple task – takes 5 seconds
Tulips, perhaps the most popular of all the spring bulbs, are adored by gardeners all over the world, and they are one of my favourites too. Bright and vibrant, these bulbs demand attention when in bloom to maintain a stunning display.
However, I’ve recently noticed the tulips in my garden have started to fade and are close to dying off for the season. This indicates the perfect time to deadhead these flowers, as advised by Monty Don.
Tulips put on a spectacular floral show each spring, but once flowering is over and the petals begin to drop, it is time to deadhead your blooms.
Last year, I deadheaded my tulips between the end of April and the start of May, and they came back looking glorious this year.
I took Monty’s advice from his gardening blog, where he instructed: “If you have tulips growing in borders, deadhead them once they are past their best.
I’ve recently noticed my tulips have started to fade
“This will stop the development of seed so that all the energy goes into forming new bulbs for next year’s flowers.”
While you can use secateurs to deadhead tulips, I prefer just pinch off the flower head and take no more than two inches off the stem using my fingers.
You do not need to prune the whole stem down to the base of the plant, as it is recommended that you leave the stem in place.
The green fleshy stem of the tulip is capable of photosynthesis, which allows it to generate energy for the bulb. If the majority of the stem is removed, the bulb’s energy production decreases.
If you want to tidy up the plants, you can gently bend the foliage down or braid it to tidy up the appearance without damaging it.
I prefer just pinch off the flower head and take no more than two inches off the stem using my fingers
As I wanted my tulips to grow back in the same spot, I deadheaded them, but if you want to change their location, a little digging is required.
If you want to replant them elsewhere for next year, dig the tulips out after flowering, storing them in your shed or garage, and replant them again in autumn.
In autumn, tulip bulbs are best planted from late October and November to December. To plant them, do so pointy end up, about 8cm apart and three times’ the bulbs’ height before covering with soil.
Alternatively, if you don’t plan to replant them, you can compost the tulip bulbs.
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