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Now that we have just about enjoyed tulips of all different sizes and colors in our Zone 6 region we will go into a time when the petals will fall off those incredible blooms and they will start to look terrible.
Those tall stems with a little knob on top and those droopy long green leaves just looking like they are dying of thirst. We are tempted; yes we are, to just cut them down because they really do look terrible, sort of hung over!
Well don’t as they need everything in those stems and leaves to make a come back next spring.
Take control of yourself and think about planting some in the upcoming fall or if you haven’t put any tulips in your garden at all then now is the time to seriously consider doing so.
Tulips come in all sizes and colors and “WYSIWYG” even in tulips. That stands for what you see is what you get! The bigger the bulb the bigger the flower! So you would be a savvy gardener to invest a few pennies more and buy the biggest bulbs you can afford. Once you get into the tulip mentality you can increase your yield by lifting and dividing the tulip bulbs when they are in their non-blooming phases.
Start thinking about the statement you want to make, where you want to make that statement and how long you want that statement to last. Not only do tulips come in all different colors and sizes they come early spring, mid-spring and late spring so when properly planned a tulip season can last about 6 weeks.
Tulips need a cold period so they need to be planted in the early fall before the first frost and they do their best in loose soil that has good drainage. When you plant your bulbs you can add a good organic bulb booster above your bulbs, but not touching your bulbs when you plant them. Plant them in clumps of 5 or 6 within a 12 inch diameter circle instead of in long rows. They will look so much better.
Think beyond the normal bulbs. Think things like Parrot Tulips that have fringed edges and bold splashes of green on the outside of their petals and they come in a wide range of magical colors.
When you want really unusual art shades such as copper, hazy lavender, golden terra cotta and wood brown Indian chief just to name a few of these beauties then plants the Breeders.
There are cottage tulips, Lily Flowered tulips, Darwins, Double Earlies, Single Earlies, Fusilier, tall tulips, short tulips and medium tulips.
So the next time you think tulips, do go tip toeing through the tulips, run wild with your ideas and you will have the snazziest tulip garden in the neighborhood because they will come back year after year.
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Author Bio Box: Arlene Wright Correll
 For more gardening or cooking information click http://www.learn-america.com/
To see Arlene’s Gardens and to read her gardening diaries or click on Arlene’s Books where you can download or buy her gardening & cook books. Arlene says, “All my royalties from the sale of my books go to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and I thank you for visiting my site.”
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