Tulips are a great addition to any spring garden, but autumn is the time to think about planting flowering bulbs. Many people think of Holland and the Netherlands when they think of tulips, but the flower actually originates in Central Asia in a country called Kazakhstan. Over many generations, hardy varieties have been added to the natural selection of the flower allowing more northern growers or those in higher altitudes to successfully grow the beautiful spring blooms. The following will provide a how to step-by-step guide for planting Tulip bulbs.

Planting Tulip Bulbs in Six Easy Steps

Step 1: Clear the area in your flower bed where you are planning on planting your bulbs. Clear away mulch, leaves, sticks and other debris. This will allow the garden planter to easily penetrate the soil. Make enough room for your flowers to grow. Tulip bulbs should be spaced four inches apart and grow to about two feet high.

Step 2: Using the bulb hound garden planter, create holes deep enough to meet the depth on the planting guide. For Tulip bulbs the recommended depth is 6 inches.

Step 3: Place the soil from the hole in your bucket or wheelbarrow to use later.

NOTE: If the soil is hard or contains a great deal of clay, you may want to consider mixing in a bag of top soil from your local stores like Home Depot or Meijer. You can also add in Peat Moss to break up the soil and help to retain water.

Step 4: Place the Tulip bulb in hole with the pointed end up.

Step 5: Cover with soil and lightly pack over the bulbs.

NOTE: Use the spade to break apart the soil before returning it to the hole.

Step 6: Water your bulb and cover with mulch.

NOTE: The covering of mulch will help to protect the bulbs in extreme climates.

Tulips will bloom in mid spring depending on your location and the conditions during the winter months. The flowers need full sun and need to be planted before the first frost hardens the soil. Tulips are great in patio pots and are a great cut flower for a spring-time arrangement. Some varieties such as the Darwin Hybrid will grow to around 24 inches in height. After planting and in the early spring, fertilize your bulbs using a specific bulb fertilizer such as HOLLAND Bulb Booster Fertilizer 9-9-6 available at Home Depot or other local garden supply stores.