You know how they always tell you to space the bulbs 4-5" apart. Well, space them half of that distance and in put them in a circular arrangement. So when the daffs and tulips bloom, they will look like a small clump. You can space the clumps like a foot or 2 apart depending on the effect that you want to achieve. Have you ever bought tulips or daffs in pots in the spring? They plant the bulbs even closer than 2". The pots look really nice. Well they will look crowded in a few years but by that time you will have some other designing ideas that you will have to dig up the bulbs anyway. Some tulips don't even come back your bed will be constantly changing over the years.

Here is planting in clumps look like



This is what row planting looks like. As you can see there are peonies in the back of the daffs and they are just starting to form buds.

kousa said:You know how they always tell you to space the bulbs 4-5" apart. Well, space them half of that distance and in put them in a circular arrangement. So when the daffs and tulips bloom, they will look like a small clump. You can space the clumps like a foot or 2 apart depending on the effect that you want to achieve. Have you ever bought tulips or daffs in pots in the spring? They plant the bulbs even closer than 2". The pots look really nice. Well they will look crowded in a few years but by that time you will have some other designing ideas that you will have to dig up the bulbs anyway. Some tulips don't even come back your bed will be constantly changing over the years.

Thank you, especially for the pictures. Now I'm trying to decide if I want to plant my tulips with daffodils, or if I want to plant tulips with tulips and daffs with daffs. Any thoughts?

Depending on what you get. If they bloom at the same time, I would put them together. But if they don't bloom at the same time, do not put them together in the same clump. The dead or fading flowers on daffs really detract from blooming tulips. Since most daffs return every year whereas most tulips don't, I think it is best to plant them in separate clumps.

kousa said:Depending on what you get. If they bloom at the same time, I would put them together. But if they don't bloom at the same time, do not put them together in the same clump. The dead or fading flowers on daffs really detract from blooming tulips. Since most daffs return every year whereas most tulips don't, I think it is best to plant them in separate clumps.

Thanks, I wouldn't even have known to take that into consideration.

My tulips come back every year and make bigger clumps. Is it a variety thing, Karen? I do a lot of parrot tulips, really love the frilly looks....

The only tulips that consistently come back for me are the Darwins and some of the lily flowering types. The others just dwindle and disappear over the years.

Gee. And all this time I thought is was just me. lol I had dug up my beds and ended up with a gazillion daffys and crocus but not one tulip I could find. I should buy more and get them in. It is almost too late. The first two multiply like crazy and form tighter and tighter clumps or rows and then stop blooming. Except the crocus and they never seem to give up. I just til them back in with no special care. They don't seem to mind and bloom their heads off. In fact it works better in that is further scatters them in the beds.

I am actually thinking moving away from tulips. Squirrel magnet and they tend to disappear after some time - not all of them though, but most varieties...

I planted gregorii (sp) tulips one year as they are supposed to be hardier but I never saw them come up. Others have though. I do really love their color in the spring along with the crocus when all else is still pretty dull. And since they don't seem to survive well, it doesn't matter if they get inadvertently dug up while planting other things. I just stuff them back in and if they come back, great, if not , no loss. I just have to realize that I will have to replant every year with new bulbs. Less expensive ones of course. Which I guess is defeating the purpose but I have bought some expensive heirloom bulbs that either never came up at all or lasted one year, and rather weakly

The only tulips that come back faithfully every year for me are the Darwin types. But even those, their performance alternate every other year. One year it will be spectacular and the next just ok. It seems like it takes a small new bulb a year or two to build up enough energy to bloom. Most of the other types just never come back. I think the reason is they are more susceptible to rot during the summer dormant stage. If you dig them up and replant them, then they will be OK. But that is just too much hassle and work to do every year.

Mary, the crocus will still grow if the bulbs happen to fall upside down? Thanks for this tip. If they don't mind the orientation, then I will just make it easier on me by just scattering them in the soil instead of planting one by one.

AlexUnder said:I am actually thinking moving away from tulips. Squirrel magnet and they tend to disappear after some time - not all of them though, but most varieties...

Alex, a local animal control person recommended Liquid Fense. She said it works beautifully and is safe and very easy to apply. I've also had really good luck with Shake Away.

But I'd love it if someone could tell me how to get rid of a chipmunk nest that's up against my foundation!

Hi Joanna, the only thing that works for me is chicken wire and it has to go into ground on the edge for about 2-3 inches to have any effect. They are digging around though! I just do not want to bother with extra efforts and will not buy any tulips if I can help it ( tendency to forget good intentions , anyone ? ). Chicken poop fertilizer was useless after a week. Trying to cover soil with some limestone screening and see how it works... Chipmunks nest? Maybe watering it on regular basis ? I am sure that they won't like it ... it just depends how long are those tunnels and how waterproof is your foundation ...

AlexUnder said:Chipmunks nest? Maybe watering it on regular basis ? I am sure that they won't like it ... it just depends how long are those tunnels and how waterproof is your foundation ...

Oh, they absolutely LOVE the watering! I'm going to dig it up and put liquid fence down and see if that'll do the trick. I'll also put a bunch of seed far from my house and see if they will be encouraged to pack a winter store up somewhere else. Poor little guy, s/he is so cute!

Our botanical garden rolls the bulbs in Plantskydd (liquid) and lets them dry then plants them. Nothing will touch them then!!! Whew smelling. I spray it around my garden and on my plants to repel moose and it works great.

opsss. Forgot to answer question about crocus. You know, I have never noticed. I do know that I have not taken any pains to plant them upright and I have plenty coming up so not sure. When they are laying around in a bucket for a while they do sprout at the top end but so do lilies and tulips and they manage to reorient their stems so why not?

Tulips were failures for me as well until I planted parrot tulips. The earlier blooming ones were always destroyed by our late snows, the parrot tulips come up a bit slower and bloom later, were blooming here the 3rd and 4th week of May ending when the very first peony blooms were opening. They are a bit flamboyant, probably not for everyone, but I love them! The only ones I've had to replace are the ones the deer accidentally pull up when trying to eat off the tops, stick them right back in the hole they came out of and they seem to do fine, increase every year. If I can get myself organized I'll spread Milorganite on the beds next year, deer seem to hate it.

I love the parrot tulips. Haven't tried them here. I thought they might be too delicate. Will look for them next spring.

LizinElizabeth said:Tulips were failures for me as well until I planted parrot tulips. The earlier blooming ones were always destroyed by our late snows, the parrot tulips come up a bit slower and bloom later, were blooming here the 3rd and 4th week of May ending when the very first peony blooms were opening. They are a bit flamboyant, probably not for everyone, but I love them! The only ones I've had to replace are the ones the deer accidentally pull up when trying to eat off the tops, stick them right back in the hole they came out of and they seem to do fine, increase every year. If I can get myself organized I'll spread Milorganite on the beds next year, deer seem to hate it.

So, Liz, the parrot tulips are perennials? I would love to not have to replant tulips each year....

The Parrot tulips are gorgeous! This is the 1st year that I've not planted them. Unfortunately, they have never returned for me, and I've had to replant them every year. I agree with Karen, the Darwin hybrids, and single late tulips do return for me.

Our tulips bloom here well before the peonies are ready to bloom. What blooms at the same time as the peonies here are bearded and Siberian irises, and clematis.

Here's a pic of Wladyslawa and Misaka with a bearded iris, and clematis Arabella to the left and Multiblue in the back.

Cem9165 said:

Here's a pic of Wladyslawa and Misaka with a bearded iris, and clematis Arabella to the left and Multiblue in the back.

Oh, my! They are all so beautiful! And is that pine-needle mulch? I can't wait for mine to come up so that I can baby them!

Thanks Joanna! Yes, we use pine straw mulch here, that we put down twice per year. It breaks down easily overtime, and helps to amend the soil.

I don't have the mulch over the crowns of the peonies, but I do use it over the newly planted roots to protect them during the winter. When the plants emerge in spring, I remove the mulch from over them.

Peonies are a joy to grow, and I wish you all the best with yours