Previously a monotonous green area - now an idyllic tulip meadow. You can achieve this transformation without any extensive redesign work. We'll tell you here how you can spice up your spring garden with a picturesque combination of tulip bed and meadow.
How to create a tulip meadow in the garden?
To create a tulip meadow in the garden, choose a sunny location, plant tulip bulbs from mid-October and use one of the two planting techniques (artful-elegant or robust-shirt-sleeved). Maintain the meadow by paying attention to watering and mowing and using suitable tulip varieties such as wild or dwarf tulips.
Location and planting time set the course
So that the tulips can join the grass in spring, there must be sunlight. Therefore, only designate a green area as a tulip meadow if it is in a sunny and warm location. Furthermore, it should be neither a dry nor a wet meadow. Ideally, the soil is fresh, humus-rich and sandy-loamy.
The tulip bulbs don't take their place in the greenery until mid-October at the earliest. The soil temperature should be 10 degrees Celsius or less to prevent the flower bulbs from sprouting prematurely.
Two planting techniques to choose from – elegant or shirt-sleeved
The nature of the green area and the number of tulip bulbs to be planted determine the planting technique. Does the tulip meadow act as a lawn for the rest of the year or does the natural character remain? Accordingly, we recommend one of the following two approaches:
Variant 1: Artfully elegant
- Cut the lawn sod with the spade in a U-shape
- Fold the greenery to loosen the soil with the rake
- Dig planting pits at a distance of 10-15 cm
- Put the tulip bulbs so deep that the layer of soil is twice as high as the bulbs are tall
- First water it and then close the lawn sod again and press it down
Variant 2: Robust shirt-sleeved
- Make 12-15 cm deep holes in the meadow with an iron rod
- Insert the tulip bulbs with the tip upwards
- Fill with loose compost soil, tamp down and water
The tulip meadow is just as easy to care for. The rainy spring season makes watering unnecessary. If you work a little compost into the soil when planting, the nutrient supply is ensured. It is important to note that you should be patient before mowing until the leaves have completely moved in.
Tip
So that the colorful flower dance of a tulip meadow is repeated every year, it is important to choose suitable tulip varieties. The robust wild and dwarf tulips are the first choice in this regard. When it comes to longevity, Darwin tulips can hold a candle to their wild counterparts. Fosteriana and Greigii tulipa also impress with their ability to naturalize over time.
