The magic of tulips unfolds in lavish splendor when their gardener is skilled in pruning. The spring flowers communicate the right time in no uncertain terms. This tutorial explains the perfect cut.

Faded tulips should be removed

Table of Contents

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  1. Cut off the faded
  2. Cut leaves to fit
  3. Summer and cut
  4. cutting
  5. Mow wild tulip meadow
  6. frequently asked Questions

    7. Cut off faded flowers

    Wide open flowers with wilted edges signal that a tulip has passed the peak of its splendor. From now on, the flower pumps its reserve substances into the seed formation with all its might. This process does not go in the gardener's interest, because the tulip's primary aim is to produce numerous offspring rather than another festival of blooms. Reason enough to subject the spring flowers to a first step in pruning. How to prune tulips at the end of flowering:

    • Clean up wilted tulip blossoms as soon as possible
    • Cut off at the base with a knife or scissors
    • Do not cut stems and leaves at this stage

    After cutting withered blossoms, set the course for next year's tulip season with an organic nutrient supply. While the leaves gradually pull in, a portion of compost with horn shavings (€32.93) is just what the flower bulbs need. By fall, hard-working soil organisms will have processed the organic fertilizer so that it's available for tulips. This strengthens winter hardiness and optimizes vitality for another season full of flowers.

    digression

    Cleaning directs energy reserves to the onion

    Exactly at the time when the planting work in the garden is in full swing, faded tulips want to be cleaned. Those who bring themselves to integrate the simple pruning work into the work schedule will be rewarded for the effort next spring. By snipping wilted flower heads, tulips come to their senses and send the flow of sap towards their bulbs. As a result, daughter bulbs are formed, from which further tulip blossoms form as if by magic in the next spring or the spring after that. Excess energy is stored inside the bulb so that the mother bulb does not run out of floral breath next year.

    Cut leaves precisely

    Trimming wilted blooms is the first step in professional tulip pruning. In the second step, the leaves come into focus. Anyone who removes the leaves when they are lush green robs the spring flowers of a valuable energy reserve. Long after the end of the flowering period, tulip leaves are still full of reserve substances that should not be wasted. This is how you complete the second cutting stage correctly:

    • Do not cut green tulip leaves
    • Wait until the foliage has yellowed and died
    • Use a sharp knife to cut each leaf that has been drawn in close to the ground

    Please do not wait until a tulip leaf can be plucked before pruning. In this state there is a risk of rotting because the plant tissue has softened. The exact moment has come when the green leaf color has turned into a morbid yellowish-brown.

    Ideal solution: oversummer and cut

    Summer is the trickiest season for tulips. Instead of staying deep in the ground, sensitive noble varieties should spend the summer above ground. A move to the summer quarters is also recommended if dying tulips affect the well-kept appearance of the bed or the flower bulbs could be damaged during planting work in May. Knife or scissors are only used at the end of the procedure. How to proceed correctly step by step:

    • Remove tulip bulbs after flowering when the foliage is wilting
    • stems and leaves don't cut
    • Scoop the onions out of the ground with a hand shovel or digging fork
    • Place in a box with sand, peat moss or potting soil
    • Store in a dark, cool and dry place until September

    Tulip bulbs only appear to be dormant during the summer. In fact, there is a lot going on inside the plant. Nutrient reserves are continuously transferred from the foliage to the bulbs in order to create energy deposits for the next flowering period. For this reason, only cut off the stems and leaves when the planting season for oversummer tulip bulbs begins in autumn.

    tips

    Tulip bulbs in summer quarters should be protected from light and heat. So that the flower bulbs do not sprout prematurely, a dark basement room offers ideal conditions with temperatures around 10 degrees Celsius. A close-meshed wire prevents ravenous mice from grabbing the juicy onions.

    Cut tulips for the vase

    Spring-fresh vase decorations for the home are a common reason for cutting tulips. Anyone who takes a few important aspects of the procedure to heart can enjoy the charming blossom symphony for up to ten days. Choose primarily strong stems on which solidly colored and tightly closed flowers are enthroned. Have a sharp, clean knife or bypass shears handy for a clean cut of the stems. How to properly cut tulips for the vase:

    • The best time is during the morning hours
    • Vase cut tulips should not be wet or damp
    • Cut off the stem at the base
    • Remove leaves that may come into contact with vase water
    • Cut a piece off the end of the handle (either at an angle or straight)

    The cut exposes the ducts so that the water can rise to the flowers. Regular water changes are important for squeaky freshness. Your tulips like soft, lime-free water with a dash of lemon juice. Take this opportunity to trim the stems to avoid clogging the supply lines.

    Mow the wild tulip meadow instead of cutting it

    To create a lavish flower meadow, wild tulips are the first choice. Once the bulbs are in the ground, they want to reproduce undisturbed with the help of bulbs and seeds. In this case, you can remove the time-consuming cleaning of withered flowers from the care plan.

    Wait patiently until all the leaves have yellowed and died. The lawn mower takes care of cutting a meadow of wild tulips. Set the cutter bar to the highest level so that you don't accidentally pull the onions out of the ground.

    frequently asked Questions

    Are Tulips Hardy?

    Tulips thrive with a frost hardy bulb from which herbaceous stalks with colorful blooms rise in spring. At the latest after the first frost, all above-ground parts of the plant die off, unless they have already been cut off. Deep in the ground, tulip bulbs not only survive the cold season unscathed. Winter cold stimulus is even the main trigger for vigorous budding and a magnificent flowering period.

    Are Tulips Poisonous?

    Tulip bulbs contain a toxin which, if eaten in large quantities, can trigger typical symptoms of poisoning, such as nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps. Tulipanin is also responsible for uncomfortable eczema when the toxin comes into contact with the skin. Please do not store tulip bulbs near kitchen onions to avoid confusion. Wearing gardening gloves prevents allergic reactions during care and planting work.

    When is the best time to cut tulips for the vase?

    Cut tulips for the vase when the flower heads are solid and still tightly closed. Late morning is the best time, after morning dew has evaporated. Do not place the spring flowers in the vase until you have cut each stem at the bottom. With a sharp knife, cut off a 3 to 5 cm long piece, either at an angle or straight, to expose the cable tracks.

    Is the clippings suitable for propagation?

    Wilted tulip flowers should be trimmed before seed formation. This makes sense, as the waiting time from sowing the seeds to the first flowering period can be up to six years. Cut leaves and stems when they are dead, so that no propagation is possible in this way. On the other hand, if you take a look at a dug up tulip bulb in autumn, with a little luck you will discover several daughter bulbs. Manually separate the sprout bulbs from the mother bulb to plant them in the new location.

    Do tulips and roses go together?

    Tulips and roses could not be more different in terms of growth habit and blossoms. Nevertheless, the herbaceous heralds of spring and shrubby summer beauties harmonize wonderfully. The primary reason for the floral unanimity is that the root systems do not interfere with each other because tulips root shallow and roses deep. It is important to ensure that there is sufficient planting distance of 20 to 30 centimetres, as rose petals will sprout when tulips are still in full bloom.

    The 3 most common cutting mistakes

    Tulips lose their magical radiance when withered flowers linger on the stems for far too long. If you cut off the green leaves when cleaning to save time, you will look in vain for colorful tulip blossoms next year. For an unrestricted tulip time indoors and outdoors, the following table draws attention to three common pruning mistakes and gives tips for prevention:

    cutting error damage picture prevention
    withered flowers not trimmed uncontrolled self-sowing, decreasing willingness to flower Cut off faded flowers at the base
    trimmed green leaves no more flowering Allow foliage to yellow and then cut
    Cut flowers not trimmed short shelf life First cut the ends of the stems, then put them in the vase

    tips

    The right combination of varieties is essential for a long-lasting tulip season. The starting signal is given by wild tulips, whose blossoms open in March. Mid-season varieties take the floral baton, such as Triumph tulips or Darwin hybrids. Late-blooming tulip varieties such as Viridiflora Tulipa are ready for a furious finale to the season.

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Vegetable garden