The daffodils have almost finished blooming, and the tulip season is also drawing to a close. Now the beautiful flowers are gone, leaving you with the green leaves. Did you know that caring for your bulb after flowering is very important?
Proper care after flowering ensures you'll have a vigorous bulb with enough energy to bloom just as beautifully next year. Here are a few tips I'd like to share.
Tips for caring for your spring bulbs:
♡ Tip 1; Deadheading the flowers might sound a bit drastic, but it's not a big deal. Once your tulips, daffodils, or other spring flowers have finished blooming, you'll see a thick, green seed pod forming. It takes a lot of energy for the bulb to produce these seeds, and the chance of beautiful flowers emerging is very small. Unless, unlike me, you have a lot of patience. It can take up to five years for a tulip bulb to develop from seed.
♡ Tip 2; The most important thing is that those green leaves must remain until they have completely turned brown. It's tempting to cut away the green clump of leaves, but don't. The leaves are full of nutrients. By allowing the leaves to dry out, all the nutrients are drawn back into the bulb. This way, it has a good supply of energy to start growing again next year.
♡ Tip 3; Keep watering! Yes, even after the flowers have faded. After flowering, the bulb will start to multiply; essentially, a new bulb is developing. For this process, the bulb needs sufficient water. So keep the soil moist, even if only the green leaves remain in the garden.
These are essentially the most important tips for spring bulbs, except for tulips. These require a little extra attention, so read on!
How can you save tulip bulbs for next year?
Tulip bulbs love the cold of winter, but they don't appreciate the warm summer temperatures. If you really want your tulip bulbs to produce flowers again next year, I recommend digging them up and replanting them in the fall. I have to admit, I leave most of my tulip bulbs in the ground, except for the tulips where the dahlias are.
The decision about whether or not to dig them up also depends somewhat on where you've planted the bulbs. If the tulip bulbs are in a location where other plants receive a lot of water in the summer, I definitely recommend digging them out. The warm summer days, combined with excessive moisture, cause the tulip bulbs to mold. If you've planted the bulbs in a location where not much else grows in the summer and therefore you don't need to water them much, it's best to leave them in the ground.
If you choose to dig up the tulip bulbs, you can do so when all the leaves have turned brown. You can then cut off the foliage and peel the remaining tulip bulb. This means removing the brown skin around the bulb, then allowing it to dry thoroughly. Once the bulbs no longer feel moist, it's best to store them in an airy place. I often hang them in a mesh bag somewhere high in the shed, so the bulbs get enough air and mice can't get to them. You could also use an old pair of pantyhose; the most important thing is that the bulbs are stored dry and airy.
The decision whether or not to dig up the bulbs is yours. If I can help you with your decision, please leave a message below the blog post and I'll be happy to help!
Love,
Isabeau
