the beauty and benefits of tulips

May has proudly proclaimed itself, bedecking the world in brilliant greens and bejeweling it with flowers of a thousand hues. Here at Apricity house, our gardens are still very much a work in progress. But even with our time diverted to other more pressing projects, it still is so valuable to have those pops of color in the spring that have such an amazing ability to bring a smile. With that in mind, last fall we planted tulips and they have been gracing us with their presence this April and May.

If you, like me, love to garden and are in a busy season or perhaps think you are not that great at gardening, consider tulips as your starting point. While it is not the season for planting, it is never too early to dream and plan. Plus, even if you order bulbs online now, most places will ship them when it is time to plant – the fall.

Why tulips as a starting point? Well, let me tell you.

1. Easy to plant then leave – Unlike new bushes or seedlings that require extra work to make sure roots are established, tulips are a plant it then forget it kind of flower. The bulbs will take care of themselves and come up next spring.
2. They are perennials – Tulips will keep coming up year after year without you having to lift a finger.
3. Easy to move – If your garden is a work in progress and you may be changing the layout or plants in a few years, tulips offer great flexibility as they can easily be dug up and moved – unlike a bush or plant with large root system that would take a bit more babying.
4. Wide variety of colors and styles – There are so many awesome varieties out there to choose from to match whatever dream or vision you have.
5. They are a great cut flower – Not only can you enjoy these flowers outdoors, but they can be cut and brought inside to brighten up any room.

While super easy to grow, there are a few tips and tricks to be aware of when selecting and planting your bulbs.

1. Choose a palette – having a visual color goal will help you select the best bulbs for the look you are going for and will help you create a striking display
2. Choose varieties across the growing season – tulips have different bloom time periods – early, mid, and late season. Choose varieties from all three for an extended time of blooms.
3. Plant close together and in multiple rows – bulbs planted close together give a full, lush feel to the garden instead of just a scattering of flowers – don’t be afraid to plant the bulbs so they are almost touching. Having denser blooms also lets you cut some for arrangements while still leaving plenty to enjoy outside!
4. Don’t be afraid of a large number of bulbs – since you can plant them so close together, you may need more bulbs than you think. Calculating roughly how many you need based on the size of your bed and how far apart you want to space them can help you buy the right number of bulbs.
5. Plant point up, around 6 in deep – this is all you need to remember when putting those tulips in the ground – too shallow and you will more likely have animals digging up the bulbs or damage from the cold. The point is where the stem will come up from, so it is important to place it up.

With these tips, growing tulips is easy and so rewarding. Dream with me on where to plant tulips this fall and get excited to see your very own tulips next spring.