Washington locals are excited for the coming tulips to bloom in Skagit county thanks to the Skagit Valley Tulip festival. The tulip festival has become a tradition for many families and has even attracted a lot of tourists. Thousands of tulips come to life and create rows of stunning colors as far as the eye can see. With the stunning colors and blooms many people end up wanting to plant their own tulips to brighten their landscaping and boost their curb appeal. While tulips are going to be blooming soon, that doesn’t mean that now is a good time to plant them.
How to Bring the Tulip Festival Home
When do Tulips Bloom?
Generally, tulips in the Pacific Northwest bloom during the month of April, however, depending on weather, they can start blooming in mid to late March if the sun has been out more than normal, and on the opposite end of the spectrum, if the sun hasn’t been out much, then you might not see blooms until mid to late April.
When Should you Plant Tulips?
If you’re wanting to incorporate tulips into your landscaping, then planting the bulbs at the right time is key. In order to get the colorful blooms that you see at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival you’ll want to plant your bulbs in the fall. Generally, October is the best month to plant tulip bulbs, however, you want to make sure the soil will remain below 60 degrees for proper growth and root development.
Tips for Planting Tulips
In order to make sure your tulips look their best there are a few tips and tricks to help ensure that your tulips are healthy with vibrant, long last lasting blooms.
- Prepare Your Soil – Ensuring you have the right soil and location are key in the overall health of your tulips. Make sure you choose a place that has well-draining soil with amply sunlight. Tulips that are planted in dense soils and shaded areas are less likely to thrive than those that receive full sun.
- Depth – It might seem too deep, however, ensuring your tulip bulbs are planting between 6-8 inches deep is crucial. Your measurements should start at the base of your bulb. This depth ensures that your tulip bulbs are protected from both pests as well as potential temperature fluctuations above the ground.
- Spacing – As tempting as it may be to plant dozens of bulbs to try and make sure you have rows and rows of brightly colored flowers, ensuring proper spacing is key. When planting tulips, make sure you are planting each bulb with 4-6 inches of space between them. This allows for proper air circulation and growth.
- Watering – As soon as you’ve finished planting your bulbs make sure to give them a good deep watering. This will help settle the soil and initiate root development. After the first watering you’ll want to ensure you don’t over water your tulip bulbs. Tulips only need about an inch of water per week, and generally during the Fall and Winter months you’ll find that you don’t have to hand-water your tulips at all thanks to the rain.
Whether you’re incorporating tulips into your landscaping to try and bring a little taste of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival to your home, or you’re hoping to boost your curb appeal by incorporating other landscaping features, our team of professional landscapers is here to ensure that your outdoor spaces are a reflection of your personal style and tastes. Contact us today to get your full and customized landscape design, and don’t forget to enjoy the beautiful tulip festival this year!