Dig Up Tulip Bulbs: Necessity or Nuisance

Tulips are one of the great joys of spring in the garden, heralding the beginning of the warmer summer months that follow.

But as these vibrant colors of spring fade and the days warm up, your tulips can start looking a little worse for wear.

Many of the tulip varieties grown in North America are unsuitable for our varying climates. Though this can pose a challenge, it is one that can be easily resolved.

In this article, we will explore how to dig up tulip bulbs and how to dry and store them to ensure vibrant blooms the following year. We will also share some tips on outsmarting pesky squirrels who see your tulips as their winter food source.

So, for more on how to overwinter, grow, and care for your tulips, let’s start with the answer to the question: Do you need to dig up tulip bulbs?

Do You Need To Dig Up Tulip Bulbs

Deciding whether to dig up tulip bulbs depends on your climate, growing variety, available space, and the time and effort involved.

Although digging the bulbs up isn’t entirely necessary, their flowering display can diminish over the years if left. This will be due, in part, to their growing environment and the climate in your area.

In some parts of North America, tulips are not always reliable as perennial plants. Many of the popular varieties require harsher winters and drier summers. So, with this in mind, it would be better to dig up the bulbs each year and store them, or alternatively, treat them as annuals.

Another reason to dig up tulip bulbs is that the mother bulb, after flowering, diverts energy into producing new ‘baby’ bulblets. This diversion will be at the expense of producing the same quality flowers the following year.

When you dig up the parent bulb, you will see these bulblets at the base. If left in the ground, they can become cramped, become nutrient-deficient, or even succumb to diseases.

They could also end up as a food source for pests, particularly squirrels, which I have covered further in this article.

If you want to ensure the best possible performance, avoid blind tulips, and longevity from your tulips, they will eventually need digging up. This might be every year. Or, if not, it will be best done at least every 3 to 4 years to divide the younger bulblets and enhance their floral display.

What Happens If You Don’t Dig Up Tulip Bulbs

If you choose to leave your tulip bulbs in the ground, here’s what you might expect:

• Smaller Blooms: If the parent bulbs are left in the ground, they will produce a clump of small bulblets at their base. These new bulblets are best divided to produce stronger flowers. If left in situ, they become overcrowded, leading to smaller and fewer blooms.
• Disease: Bulbs in damp soil are far more susceptible to fungal diseases and rot.
• Disappearance: Some tulips may simply fail to reappear the following spring. This could be due to diseases or being a food source for pests.

How To Dig Up Tulip Bulbs

The task of digging up tulip bulbs is quite easy by applying the following guidelines:

Tools You’ll Need

• Garden Fork or Spade: Use a small hand garden fork or trowel. This will give you more control and lessen the chances of slicing through a bulb.
• Bucket or Container: You might need more than one if you are digging up different varieties and want to keep them separate for storing and labeling.
• Gardening Gloves: Gloves are advisable to protect your hands from dirt and sharp objects in the ground.
• Pruning Shears or Scissors: These will be needed to remove the foliage after digging.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Locate the Bulbs: Gently remove to one side any mulch or debris from the area where your tulips were planted. Look out for yellow foliage, as it will be a good sign of where they will be.
2. Loosen the Soil: Carefully insert your garden fork or spade just a few inches away from the base of the plant. Then, gently loosen the soil around the bulb, taking care not to slice or damage it.
3. Lift the Bulbs: Carefully lift the bulb cluster out of the ground and gently remove any surrounding soil. This is a good time to remove the bulblets from the mother bulb and store them separately. They can be planted in the fall, too, but it will take a couple of years before they mature enough to flower like the mother bulb.
4. Inspect and Trim: Examine each bulb for signs of damage or disease. Throw away any that are soft, mushy, or discolored. Remove the excess top foliage using sharp pruning shears or scissors, leaving about an inch of stem attached.
5. Dry and Store: Line the base of a breathable container with some absorbent paper and cover it with a layer of sand, vermiculite, or peat. You can use this separately or mixed together. Insert the bulbs about ¾  inch deep into the mixture, ensuring they don’t touch each other. Find a cool and shady place with good ventilation and leave until dry. Then, once they’re dry, they must be stored in a cool, dark, dry, breathable container. Don’t store near fruit or vegetables as they emit ethylene gas that could cause the bulbs to perish. Leave until the fall somewhere with a temperature from 60F to 66F.

How Deep To Dig Up Tulip Bulbs

The depth at which you dig will depend on the size of the bulb. The general rule is to dig to about 8 inches deep, as this should allow enough room to lift the root system, too.

Tips for Successful Digging

• Dig on a Dry Day: Wet soil can cling to the bulbs. Lifting the bulbs when wet will mean both the bulb and skin will take longer to dry out, and there is a greater risk of them rotting.
• Dig Wide: Dig a circle of at least 8 inches at the base of the plant to avoid accidentally slicing through any bulbs.
• Lift Gently: Don’t tug the bulbs out of the ground. Instead, gently loosen the soil and lift it out carefully.
• Label Your Bulbs: If you’re digging up multiple varieties, have more than one container to hand to separate them. This will make labeling them easier for storing and identifying when planting in the fall.

When Can You Dig Tulip Bulbs

Here’s a quick guideline for digging up tulip bulbs in different regions:

• Northern Climates (Zones 3-6): Late May to Early June
• Middle Climates (Zones 7-8): Early to Mid-May
• Southern Climates (Zones 9-10): Late April to Early May

And here are somewhere digging up your tulip bulbs is highly recommended:

• Variety: If left in the ground, hybrid tulips, particularly those with flamboyant double or parrot blooms, will lose their vibrancy after a year or two. Lifting and storing will help to keep the bulbs more energized and maintain quality blooms each following year.
• Climate: If you live in a region with hot, humid summers, your tulips will appreciate a cool, dry break indoors. Similarly, areas with very wet winters can lead to bulb rot, so digging and storing them properly will provide protection.
• Performance: If your tulips seem to be shrinking or producing fewer flowers each year, it could be a sign that they’re overcrowded and need to be divided.

The Golden Rule: Wait for the Foliage to Yellow

The ideal time to dig up tulip bulbs is when the foliage has started to turn yellow but hasn’t completely died back. This happens around 6 to 8 weeks after flowering, but it can take a little longer.

Why Yellowing Foliage is Key:

• Energy Transfer: Before the leaves die, they transfer their remaining energy and nutrients to the bulb. This ensures the bulb has enough strength to survive the dormant period and produce vibrant blooms the following year. When they are yellow and withered, this is a sign they have completed their task.
• Locating Bulbs: The dying, yellow foliage is a useful marker, making it easier to find the bulbs in the ground.

Should You Dig Up Tulip Bulbs Immediately After Flowering

In theory, you can dig up tulip bulbs immediately after they flower. However, it’s not recommended.  As mentioned above, the foliage is crucial in replenishing energy in the bulb. Removing the leaves prematurely will deprive the bulbs of vital nutrients needed for the following year’s flowers.

Can You Dig Up And Replant Tulip Bulbs In The Spring

While it’s not ideal, and I advise against it, you can dig up and replant tulip bulbs in the spring if absolutely necessary. However, do so with caution, as it can disrupt their entire growth cycle, leading to smaller or fewer blooms. If you must transplant in spring, do it as early as possible and before the foliage emerges.

What If I Accidentally Dig Up Tulip Bulbs?

However, if you do accidentally dig up tulip bulbs, depending on the time of year and their condition, you have a few options.

If the foliage is still green and healthy

Gently replant the bulbs at the same depth as the original planting. Water them well and provide shade or mulch if the weather is hot. Inspect regularly for signs of stress, such as wilting or yellowing leaves.

If the foliage has started to yellow

Brush off the excess soil and allow the bulbs to dry in a shady and cool spot for a few days. When the foliage has completely died, remove it and store the bulbs in a cool, dry place until fall. They can then be replanted at the recommended depth for your variety in the fall.

If the foliage has completely withered

If any bulbs show signs of rot or damage, throw them away, along with any that are mushy or discolored. Then, follow the same guidelines above on how to dry and store your bulbs. In the fall, the bulbs will be ready for replanting, again at the recommended depth for your variety.

Additional Tips

• When digging up large bulbs clumps, divide them before replanting, particularly separating the young bulblets from the mother bulb. This will help prevent overcrowding and increase your stock for free.
• If you’re unsure whether a bulb is healthy, err on caution and discard it. Damaged bulbs are more susceptible to diseases that could spread to other plants.

Do Squirrels Dig Up Tulip Bulbs

If you’ve noticed holes in your garden beds or missing bulbs, squirrels are likely the culprits.

I can personally vouch that squirrels are notorious for digging up tulip bulbs. They are a particularly favorite food source in my garden, extending into a paddock. So, on the scale of things, I expect to lose some tulip bulbs to squirrels each year.

This loss happens more in the fall when they’re busy storing food for the winter. Their antics, though, are amusing and make up for the loss of a few bulbs as their winter feed.

However, they can be more of a problem in a smaller yard or garden. Especially if they’re taking tulip bulbs of a favorite variety.

It will be a challenge, but the following methods have been found to be successful in areas that need more protection from squirrels pilfering tulip bulbs.

How to Protect Your Tulip Bulbs From Squirrels:

• Physical Barriers: Cover your tulip beds with chicken wire or hardware cloth after planting. Bury the edges to prevent squirrels from digging underneath.
• Repellents: To deter squirrels, sprinkle cayenne pepper, hot sauce, or other strong-smelling substances around your tulip beds.
• Distraction: To divert squirrels’ attention from your bulbs, provide them with an alternative food source, such as bird feeders filled with nuts and seeds.
• Planting Depth: Plant your tulip bulbs deeper than the recommended (8-10 inches) to make them more difficult for squirrels to reach.

Final Words

The care requirements and extra work may differ slightly from those of other spring flowering bulbs. But I think you will agree that the spectacular floral display in spring will be rewarding enough.

By giving your tulips a well-deserved summer vacation each year, you can be assured of many years of these unique cup-shaped flowers creating a rainbow of color in your flower beds and borders.

For more flower care and gardening tips, check out our blogs.

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