How to Get Tulips to Bloom

Remove anything that is blocking the sunlight for the tulips. Tulips require full sunlight for proper growth, and they will not bloom if they don't get full sun exposure. If something like a permanent structure is blocking the sun, consider replanting your tulips in a different location.

Remove any structures that may be retaining heat and overheating the tulips, such as a metal swimming pool. Even though tulips need full sun to bloom properly, they are heat-sensitive, and they will not bloom if exposed to high temperatures. Water the tulips with cool water during the hottest part of the day, rather than the early morning or evening.

Allow the tulip leaves to grow. If you prune the leaves, this could result in loss of buds or failure to bloom. The leaves will die and fall off naturally when the plant no longer needs them.

Fertilize the tulip bed with the appropriate fertilizer if the soil hasn't been fertilized for at least one growing season. Every year, the tulips pull nutrients from the soil that may not be replaced naturally. Once the soil is depleted, the tulips will not have enough nutrients to grow properly and bloom.

Install a drain to remove excess water from the tulip garden. Tulips require well-drained soil, and they will not grow properly when exposed to excess water. Dig a trench from the tulip patch to a different part of the yard with a spade, sloping it down and away from the tulips so that the excess water will drain.