Garden Care Guide

Tulip Care

Tulipa spp.

A classic spring bulb that likes well-drained, sunny areas. It needs a winter chilling period in order to flower. In mild climates, most modern hybrid tulips perform best in the first year and are generally treated as annuals.

Hardy · -30 °C / -22 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Watering: The bulbs are dormant.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • Pests & diseases: Make sure water does not collect in the root zone. Softening and darkening at the root collar are signs of root rot.
February
  • Watering: The bulbs are dormant.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • Pests & diseases: Make sure water does not collect in the root zone. Softening and darkening at the root collar are signs of root rot.
March
  • Watering: When the leaves begin to emerge, water if the soil is dry.
  • Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer or well-rotted organic fertilizer once when it wakes from dormancy.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering begins.
  • Pests & diseases: During humid and cool periods, monitor the leaves and trunk for signs of mold, spots and rot.
  • Frost risk: Shoots may be sensitive to frost, but they are generally hardy.
April
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • Pruning: After the flowers fade, cut only the flower stalk to prevent seed set. DO NOT CUT THE LEAVES UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
  • Plant protection: Continue checking for diseases and pests.
  • General care: Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: Color breaking in flowers and leaves can be a sign of virus; these plants should be uprooted and destroyed.
May
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Pruning: Let the leaves turn yellow and dry out on their own. This allows the bulb to store nutrients for next year.
  • General care: Flowering continues. Spread mulch 5-7 cm thick over the root zone; it conserves soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Do not pile mulch against the trunk. Drainage is vital for this plant. In heavy soil that holds water, plant it on a raised mound or berm 20-30 cm high, so the root collar stays above the surrounding soil level.
June
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Pruning: If the leaves have dried out completely, they can now be cut.
  • General care: After the leaves dry, it is the most suitable time to lift the bulbs and store them through the summer in a dry, cool, airy place. Or, if the soil dries out completely in summer, they can be left in place.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the lifted bulbs and discard the rotten or diseased ones.
July
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • General care: The bulbs are dormant.
August
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • General care: The bulbs are dormant.
September
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Fertilizing: Do not fertilize.
  • Pruning: There is no part to prune.
  • General care: It is still too early to plant tulips, as the soil is still warm. This month is ideal for buying tulip bulbs and storing them in a cool, dry, dark place until planting time (November). You can prepare the planting area.
  • Pests & diseases: Buy only healthy, firm bulbs.
October
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days. Water newly planted plants more often than established plants during the first year; the root system is still shallow.
  • Fertilizing: During planting, bulb plant fertilizer or compost can be mixed into the soil beneath the bulbs.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: During humid and cool periods, monitor the leaves and trunk for signs of mold, spots and rot.
November
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Fertilizing: If fertilizer was applied at planting, do not fertilize further.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Suitable period for planting and transplanting. Make sure water does not pool in the root zone during winter rains; for this plant, drainage is more critical than irrigation.
  • Pests & diseases: Make sure water does not collect in the root zone. Softening and darkening at the root collar are signs of root rot. In humid, cool periods, watch for mold, spots and rot on the leaves and stem.
  • Frost risk: The bulbs are frost hardy.
December
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Planted bulbs begin to develop roots below ground.
  • Pests & diseases: Make sure water does not collect in the root zone. Softening and darkening at the root collar are signs of root rot.
  • Frost risk: The bulbs are frost hardy.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

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