My tulips are done blooming, but the leaves have not died back. Can I dig them up now?

Question

My Tulips in my flower garden are done blooming, and the pedals fell off about 2 weeks ago. now all that is left are the leaves and stems which seem to be just a green as ever. I would like to plant some other flowers now. I was wondering if I were to dig up the bulbs now and put them in a dark dry place, would it hurt them?

Answer 1

Don't dig them up yet.



Leave them until they're all yellow and totally gross-looking and seem to be "dead" and then dig them up.



Should be, oh, fall-ish.



Put in some annuals to cover up the foliage. Next year, try planting bulbs that bloom in succession (for example, crocuses, daffodils, tulips, and peonies) so they all kinda cover each other up when they're done blooming. The peonies will cover up the rest of the stuff as it finishes growing for the year and they look like slightly scruffy bushes (they get a little droopy sometimes, but the leaves are nice) after they bloom.

Answer 2

Leave the foiliage to yellow and wither. Once it is yellow and dry looking you can cut or pinch it off. I have heard of people digging Tulip bulbs and saving them for the next growing season. Some say that this is the best way to ensure repeat blooming. Others say to dig the bulbs up and throw them away because Tulips are so finicky about re-blooming. I have never bothered with digging mine but I haven't had much getting repeat blooms, either. I would just plant new ones each fall.

Answer 3

Yes, it will hurt them. You have to let the leaves die back naturally. That is how the bulb stores it's energy for next spring. The leaves take in as much sunlight as they can before dying back. If you take them out now, you might as well throw them away - they will not have enough stored energy to bloom next year.

Answer 4

It will hurt them. They are gathering and storing energy for next springs blooming. Wait until the leaves start to die off. You can remove the stems.

Answer 5

best to wait until they start to turn yellow.this is the time that the bulb is storing its energy and growth for next years flowers..if you must dig them up leaves stems in tack and let them dry out before you store them and replant in the fall

Answer 6

better to wait the nutriens from the stem is absorbed into bulbs.i used to just leave mine in the ground till everything gone

Answer 7

no dont wait till they die back . you can leave them for 2 years and they will be ok.

Answer 8

NO. You have to wait until they die back all the way.