Post-Bloom Care of Tulips

Removing Blooms

• Tulips should be removed after the flowers fade and wilt, otherwise the plant expends energy on going to seed, diverting energy from nourishing the tulips bulbs for the next growing season. Clip off the wilted tulip, along with the stem, but don't remove the foliage.

Removing Foliage

• The foliage must be allowed to remain on the tulip until the leaves die down and turn yellow in midsummer. The foliage is crucial for the development of the bulbs, as nourishment is provided by the green leaves, which absorb energy from the sun. When the foliage dies down, use pruners to cut the foliage off at ground level; allowing the dead foliage to remain on the plant will invite pests and disease.

Dividing Tulips

• Tulips benefit from division every few years. As tulip bulbs multiply, the plant becomes crowded and blooming decreases. To divide tulips, lift a clump from the ground with a garden fork, then separate the bulbs from the main clump. Replant the bulbs immediately or store the bulbs until spring. To store tulips bulbs, brush the excess soil from the bulbs, then rinse the bulbs with a garden hose. Allow the bulbs to dry, then place the bulbs in a cardboard box. Store the box in a cool, well-ventilated spot until autumn planting time.

Mulching Tulips

• Cover the tulip bed with 2 to 4 inches of organic mulch after the weather turns cold in autumn, as mulch protects tulip bulbs from damage caused by repeated freezing and thawing. Use a mulch such as straw, shredded bark, pine needles or dry grass clippings. Remove the mulch as soon as the weather warms in spring. Avoid using leaves unless the leaves are chopped or shredded. Whole leaves become wet and matted.