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Garden Gate:  Tulips  |
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 17 2006 : 09:59:11 AM
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We just bought this house last December. We have had 2 springs and well the Tulips are pretty sad. Only too very small blooms this year. The Tuilps were here before us, so no telling how long they have been in the ground.I know that they wane after time and should be fed every year. I fed them, but they still are puny. Should I pull them out and start over with new bulbs this fall or is there hope?
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Mar 17 2006 : 10:25:32 AM
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Julia -
Are the tulips in a large clump or just a few sprouts? If a large clumb, after they bloom and start to die down, dig them up. What happens is they get seed blubs attached to the main blub. Break them up. Re-plant into smaller clumps. I usually try to put some of the large bulbs with some of the new ones in each clump. Put a little bone meal in and cover up. Then when they begin to break ground next year, give them a little feed and they should do okay. Also are they where they get enough sun? You may also want to buy some new bulbs to mix with the old, up to you. I have had blubs here since we moved in and I do this about every 3 years or so and have no problems. My biggest issue are the squirrels digging them up and eating them - so I always plant extra for them 
Anne
"Second star to the right, straight on till morning" Peter Pan
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Mar 20 2006 : 8:02:13 PM
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Thanks Anne. They are in clumps. Should I wait till fall to dig them up or do it now, as most of the clumps have not blooms? Only two clumps have one bloom each. julia
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
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ali2583
True Blue Farmgirl
404 Posts
Alison
Winnipeg
Manitoba
Canada
404 Posts |
Posted - Mar 21 2006 : 3:11:59 PM
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I heard that over the years, the tulips bulbs also shift a little in the ground, and end up a little further down, which makes it tougher for them to bloom. I redug mine up and planted them a little higher,and they're doing great now.
"God's gift to you is life. What you choose to do with that life is your gift to God" |
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Mar 21 2006 : 7:28:00 PM
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Thanks Alison!
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Mar 22 2006 : 06:58:12 AM
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Julia -
I would wait till your poor little two blooms do their thing and when the stems start to die down then dig them up and separate. Also I heard that after tulips bloom and the petals fall off, you should clip the heads off, this way they don't try to waste engery going to seed.
Anne
"Second star to the right, straight on till morning" Peter Pan
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Mar 22 2006 : 12:57:03 PM
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They are rather pathetic blooms. I hope the bulbs can be revieved. I will probably buy new bulbs this fall, as I have a feeling these bulbs don't care anymore. thanks for all the advice. Julia
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
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Garden Gate: Tulips |
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Tulips
