What do I do after tulips have flowered?

By Therese M. Barlow (Guest Post)

Good site. My friend and I planted tulips for the first time last fall. They are done blooming, but we didnt know if we should cut them down.

Thanks for the tip.

By

hedera

When the flowers have done.....cut off their heads about 2 inches below where the head started. Allow the foilage to "brown off"> this is what nurishes the bulb for next season. Thats about it really. This is a pretty general rule of thumb for bulbs. They all need to be deadheaded after theyre done, and they all need to feed themselves on their foilage in order to give us a good show next year.....good luck

By

Beth

That's right. So many people cut off the leaves when the flowers are gone, but the leaves are feeding the bulb for next year. So just let them be for a while. The leaves will turn soon and then you can cut them off at ground level.

By blindquilter (Guest Post)

DO NOTHING!!! Let the leaves turn brown and collapse down to the ground. You have to do this so the bulb gets strong for next year. Nothing more will happen this year, but next year your tulips will come up again. After three years, dig them up carefully, and you will find you have several bulbs, some small, some larger, where you had one before. Separate them, and replant them before the end of October for the following spring. Good luck.
If your tulips are potted, stick them in the ground right away, so that the bulbs can get the nutrition they need from their leaves and from the soil.