It’s autumn, so let’s talk about spring flowers!
Now that we've officially entered autumn, it's time to think about that most springlike of flowers – the beautiful tulip!
Now that we've officially entered autumn, it's time to think about that most springlike of flowers – the beautiful tulip!
Here at Direct2florist, we love tulips. Ask any florist why they love tulips, and they'll tell you it's because they look brilliant in spring bouquets – their silky petals have a unique beauty and are simply joyous to look at. Spring simply wouldn't
be the same without tulips. The beautiful flowers of these showy bulbs come in almost every colour imaginable, from vibrant shades that are very welcome after the dark winter months to pastel shades and even classic whites and creams.
Gardeners everywhere also love tulips because they are perfect for adding colour to borders in April and May. They grow very well in pots, making them ideal for a garden or backyard of any size.
Some tulips flower earlier than others – early flowering varieties bloom from late March to April, mid-season in April to May, and late-flowering ones bloom in May. You can prolong your displays by growing a mix of different types. You can also
mix flower shapes, heights and colours. Combining tulips can be quite an art, but you can buy ready-selected mixes at the garden centre or online.
Tulips for the spring
So, why are we talking about this spring flower at the beginning of autumn? It's because the best time to plant your bulbs is in the autumn, between October and November. This is usually about six weeks before the ground freezes. However, if you have
missed this window, you can still plant spring flower bulbs as late as December or even into the early days of January.
Tulips of all types do best in a sunny, sheltered spot, in well-drained soil. It's a good idea to plant tulips behind perennials in a border – their emerging foliage will conceal the foliage of the tulips as they die back. Bulbs tend to look best
when planted in groups or clumps. The bulb packaging will indicate the ideal planting depth, but as a rule of thumb, dig a hole to a depth of two to three times the bulb's height. Plant with the pointed side up and cover with soil – a specialist
peat-free bulb planting compost is recommended – and water well.
When buying tulip bulbs, look out for value packs that also include spring bulb favourites such as daffodils and crocus, bringing colour to your garden for a prolonged period.
Want to find out more?
To read more about tulips, check out our previous blog post by clicking here.
