Spring is in the air and that means an abundance of blossoms everywhere from the neighborhood park to your own backyard.

One iconic springtime flower that’ll add color to your home is the tulip. Get ready to take advantage of peak tulip season with our top tulip care tips, from selecting the perfect bulb to caring for cut flowers.

How to Grow, Care for, and Handle Your Tulips

Celebrate peak tulip season with our tulip tips, from selecting the perfect bulb to aftercare.

Selecting the Perfect Bulb

Choose healthy bulbs

When you’re buying tulip bulbs, ensure they are firm and not mushy. Larger bulbs often result in bigger plants, so pick the largest bulbs of the variety you are purchasing. A little surface mold is usually harmless.

How to Choose the Right Spot in the Garden

Optimal growing conditions

Tulips thrive in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 8, preferring sunny to lightly shaded spots with fertile, well-draining soil enriched with organic matter like compost or peat moss. Avoid planting in full shade or soggy areas, as these conditions hinder their growth.

Consider alternatives for wet gardens

For gardens prone to excess moisture, use raised beds or containers to prevent bulb rot.

Tips for Planting Tulip Bulbs

In the garden

Plant bulbs in fall after the first frost but before the ground freezes. Dig holes three times the depth of the bulb size, typically 6-8 inches for large bulbs and 4-5 inches for smaller ones. Place the bulb pointy side up, backfill the hole, and water thoroughly. Space bulbs 4-5 inches apart and protect from pests with wire mesh if necessary.

In a container

Brighten up patios or porches with tulips in containers. Use jars with drainage holes and fill them with well-draining potting mix. Plant bulbs at the same depth as in the garden, ensuring 2-3 inches of space at the jars bottom for root growth.

Winter care for containers

Dear Lykkers, in zones 3-6, move jars to a cool, protected space during winter. In warmer zones (7-8), containers can stay outside. Keep the potting mix moist but not wet until green shoots appear in spring, signaling it’s time to bring the jar into sunlight.

How to Plant Tulips

Video by Longfield Gardens

Tulip Care After They’ve Bloomed

Post-bloom maintenance

Cut flowers off as they wilt, but let the leaves grow to nourish the bulb for future blooms. Remove leaves only once they yellow. Not all tulips will rebloom, giving you the opportunity to experiment with new varieties.

When to Buy Tulips

Timing matters

Purchase fully bloomed tulips only for immediate use. For longevity, buy or cut tulips showing just a hint of color.

How to Arrange Tulips

Start with a clean vase

Bacteria can harm tulips, so always use a clean vase washed with bleach.

Prepare your tulips

Remove lower foliage to prevent bacteria growth, and trim at least half an inch from the stem's bottom.

Choose the right container

Tall containers keep tulips upright, while shorter ones allow for graceful movement. Fill the vase one-third with water and add floral preservative or a small amount of bleach. Avoid placing tulips with daffodils as their sap can clog tulip stems.

Rotate and re-cut

Tulips bend toward light, so rotate the vase daily. Re-cut stems every two days to extend their vase life.

Wrap bent tulip stems in plastic wrap or tissue paper, trim the ends, and place them in fresh water. After a few hours, remove the wrapping to reveal straightened flowers.