Planting Instructions:
Lily Planting Instructions are below the tulip info.
TULIP PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS:
First: Tulips go pointed-side up. You may or may not see any rootlets on the bottom end. Since they grow new roots each season, it doesn't matter if the bottom has rootlets at this point.
Plant the tulips in a well-drained, sunny (NOT part-shade or dappled sun) area that doesn't get too wet or too dry. The soil should be good quality, but it doesn't have to be topsoil. If you have dense, nondraining clay, either dig out some of the clay and put better soil in, or used raised beds.
How far apart to plant them depends on how much watering and care you're willing to give them. The most stunning displays have a bulb every couple of inches. But, such intensive plantings are bad for the bulbs, and need special care so the tulips won't die of crowding. I DO NOT recommend planting tulips as close as is done in "commercial" gardens!!! The tulips we ship are very big, and usually will produce multiple stalks. Therefore, they should have at least 4 inches between them, to allow for all the topgrowth and blooms. With the 4-inch spacing, nature's water is often enough, and they should last for years without undue amounts of work.
If you can't resist planting bulbs practically on top of each other at 2 inches or less (to make like a commercial garden), they will need MUCH MORE water and fertilizer than in a more open planting. Commercial gardens use automated sprinklers and foliar fertilizer (delivered through the irrigation system).
What do I do once they stop blooming?
NOTHING!!! Do NOT cut, mow, or otherwise remove the leaves!!! The leaves are how the bulbs gather energy for next year's blooms. So if you cut them off before they are COMPLETELY yellow, what you'll get next year is...nothing but leaves!
It is suggested that, if you absolutely want to hide the plain green leaves (which will be there for about 2 months!), you plant annuals among the tulips. (Remember not to plant so many "hider" plants that you block the light from the tulip leaves!)
The best results for continued year-after-year blooming come from just allowing the leaves to show, and NOT planting anything else in the bed until the tulips are completely dormant again. This way, neither leaves nor roots have to compete with other species for nutrients, and can store up plenty of energy for the next year's show.
LILY PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS:
The lilies have roots already growing, so they are ready to plant IMMEDIATELY. If you cannot plant them right away, keep them in a cool, moist (so the roots don‘t dry out), and dark location. Light will cause them to start sprouting sooner, and once leaves show, they must be planted right away.
Pick a spot which has good drainage and light (at least ½ day of full sun). Avoid locations that stay wet for a long time after it rains. Too-wet locations can cause rotting.
Loosen the soil in the hole, deeper than the bulb will go. Loosened soil underneath the bulb makes it easier for roots to penetrate downwards.
Plant between 4-6” deep. Lilies don’t like their bulbs to get too hot, so plant deeper in warmer areas (like California). Any stem length which grows underground (between the bulb and the soil surface) will also sprout roots, so deeper plantings will just end up being anchored better, as well as having more roots to bring in water and nutrients.
Spacing--give them at least 6” between them to allow for adequate air circulation and growth.
Be careful that any mulches applied do not draw slugs, and that drainage is good.
A slow-release, balanced fertilizer can be of help. But, for continued flowering, it’s more important to leave the leaves on the plant until they turn completely yellow. Make sure any fertilizer applied doesn’t have too much nitrogen, or it can produce a bushy, but bloomless, plant. Potato fertilizer is said to work well.
After blooming, leave at least 2/3 of the stem intact to ensure a good showing next blooming season.
Lilies usually don’t need water after flowering.
Lilies may bloom later than expected the first year. After a year, they should bloom at the normal time for your area.
