Help for Tulip Bulbs in the Garden

They Grow Best in Sunshine

• Choosing the correct location for tulip bulbs increases their chance of success. Because tulips are sun-loving plants, it's essential that their designated area receives several hours of daily sunlight exposure. If a sunny location is simply not possible, then partial sun for about four to six hours -- preferably in afternoon -- each day will do.

They Need Good Soil

• The composition of soil is important for tulip bulbs. They produce the best plants if they are buried in a well-drained and airy soil that provides lots of oxygen. Adding some compost, or even some sand, helps to aerate soil. Keeping the soil loose prevents the bulbs from suffocating in wet soil, where they can rot and die. Unless the soil is extremely dry, then putting water in the planting hole when you plant tulip bulbs is not necessary.

The Best Bulbs Produce the Best Plants

• Producing healthy tulip plants starts with picking the best bulbs. Choose bulbs that are rounded, firm and plump. They can be planted in groups of two or three, or they can be planted individually. Use a trowel to dig a planting hole, and loosen the soil inside the hole. The planting depth should be 8 to 10 inches. A good rule to follow for depth is to double the measurement of the tulip variety's stem. The tips of bulbs should point upward when the bulbs are planted and covered with soil. Placing some mulch over the planted area protects the bulbs in the event of a freeze. That blanket of protection allows root growth to continue uninterrupted.

Fertilizer Promotes Blooms

• Tulips should be fertilized once each year in fall, such as with a slow-release, tulip bulb fertilizer that has a nutrient ratio of 9-9-6. Fall is the best time for the bulbs to absorb nutrients from a tulip bulb fertilizer. Fertilizing in fall when the weather cools also is best for immature roots; cool temperatures prevent the concentrated fertilizer mix from burning budding roots. Sprinkle the fertilizer on the top of the soil so it can make its way slowly down to the bulbs and their roots. A light watering is recommended to work the fertilizer into the ground, but avoid soaking the area. Fertilizer helps tulips produce their spring blooms.