Comments on: Totally tuliped out http://blog.blithewold.org/how-when-what/totally-tuliped-out/ a garden journal about public garden maintenance, seasonal tasks, garden events, stories about gardening, volunteers, flowers, bugs and wildlife Fri, 17 May 2013 01:29:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Barbee' http://blog.blithewold.org/how-when-what/totally-tuliped-out/comment-page-1/#comment-2862 Barbee' Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:07:25 +0000 http://www.blithewold.org/blog/how-when-what/totally-tuliped-out/#comment-2862 Hi, I like the idea of moving them to a cutting garden. Just wish I had room for one. One idea I read about is to scatter wildflower seeds on the tulip bed. I have not done that, but I have scattered Nigella seeds and they reseed themselves. It is not as pretty as a bunch of flowering annuals, but it is a lot easier. <em>Barbee - I love Nigella so that's an idea that would work for me just fine! Some people don't just love how prolific they are though... Verbena bonariensis is another good re-seeder - love it or hate it! -kris</em> Hi, I like the idea of moving them to a cutting garden. Just wish I had room for one.

One idea I read about is to scatter wildflower seeds on the tulip bed. I have not done that, but I have scattered Nigella seeds and they reseed themselves. It is not as pretty as a bunch of flowering annuals, but it is a lot easier.

Barbee – I love Nigella so that’s an idea that would work for me just fine! Some people don’t just love how prolific they are though… Verbena bonariensis is another good re-seeder – love it or hate it! -kris

]]> By: pence http://blog.blithewold.org/how-when-what/totally-tuliped-out/comment-page-1/#comment-2389 pence Mon, 26 May 2008 01:36:21 +0000 http://www.blithewold.org/blog/how-when-what/totally-tuliped-out/#comment-2389 Every 2 or 3 years I top up with two or three inches of compose. I noticed that when they started splitting and getting smaller, the bulbs were working up in the soil. If I get the soil back to the optimum planting depth, the tulips get back to their original height and flower size. I've kept some clumps going since 1990 this way (Fringed Elegance, and several varieties of lily shaped ones, Carnival de Nice and Esther Rjinveld (?)- (the red and white parrot) have been very happy with this. <em>Thanks, Pence for sharing your method for tulip rejuvenation! It makes perfect sense and seems like an easy way to keep old favorites going and going. -kris</em> Every 2 or 3 years I top up with two or three inches of compose. I noticed that when they started splitting and getting smaller, the bulbs were working up in the soil. If I get the soil back to the optimum planting depth, the tulips get back to their original height and flower size. I’ve kept some clumps going since 1990 this way (Fringed Elegance, and several varieties of lily shaped ones, Carnival de Nice and Esther Rjinveld (?)- (the red and white parrot) have been very happy with this.

Thanks, Pence for sharing your method for tulip rejuvenation! It makes perfect sense and seems like an easy way to keep old favorites going and going. -kris

]]> By: Mr. McGregor's Daughter http://blog.blithewold.org/how-when-what/totally-tuliped-out/comment-page-1/#comment-2354 Mr. McGregor's Daughter Sun, 25 May 2008 17:28:46 +0000 http://www.blithewold.org/blog/how-when-what/totally-tuliped-out/#comment-2354 I don't think I could deal with having to dig them up & replant them every year. It's too hard to get that far into the ground (my wrists ache the next day, even with a bulb digger). I have only 2 types of Tulips & both are the perennial type. Geraniums, especially a sprawler like Rozanne, & Lamium make good companions for tulips as they sprawl to cover the bare spaces & don't need tons of water. <em>We have a few clumps of species tulips in the Rose Garden that have done nothing but increase and become more beautiful since we planted them. But they're in desperate need of companion plants like yours to hide the fading foliage. -kris</em> I don’t think I could deal with having to dig them up & replant them every year. It’s too hard to get that far into the ground (my wrists ache the next day, even with a bulb digger). I have only 2 types of Tulips & both are the perennial type. Geraniums, especially a sprawler like Rozanne, & Lamium make good companions for tulips as they sprawl to cover the bare spaces & don’t need tons of water.

We have a few clumps of species tulips in the Rose Garden that have done nothing but increase and become more beautiful since we planted them. But they’re in desperate need of companion plants like yours to hide the fading foliage. -kris

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