All About Tulip Gardens

As the curtain of winter lifts, tulips are one of the first flowers in the spring phase. As the last drifts into the soil, these bright signs of spring dance in the sunlight. However, do not wait for spring to grow tulips. Whether in a bed under a bush in the cracks of a rock garden or container, a tulip bulb is an underground flower factory just waiting to spring "up" on any land it occupies.

The purpose of the tulip bulbis the flower. Indeed, in the center of each ball, the cradle of a baby born without. The white, onion bulb, which surrounds the gem stores of nutrients to germinate and grow the needs arise. The only real help the tulip needs to grow is to keep a generous sip of water and soil too moist.

Selection of varieties

When selecting bulbs, a simple rule of thumb is that the larger the bulb, the bigger the flower. Choose plump bulbs are firm and heavy for their size. Althoughtunic (outer skin paper) must be complete so that the bulbs are dry, too dry, scars, and traces of mold, soft spots or other irregularities. However, it is more difficult than choosing bulbs first selection from over 100 varieties of tulips which are divided into 15 departments. Careful selection of different departments can help you plan a tulip garden that begins in the spring and dances on the end of May!

First Single in advance

Short-stemmed tulips(Typically about 8 cm high) that flower in late March and early April.

According Early Double

A wealth of flowers on stems of 12-15 cm in an attractive display when these bulbs are forced indoors. Although usually bloom from early to mid-April, are more sensitive than other species need protection from cold weather.

Third Triumph

A standard since 1923, when the Dutch breeders, N. Zandbergen, these tulips are namedtake the throne at the end of April when she and 18 inches tall tower.

Fourth Darwin hybrids

One of the highest large garden tulips (usually about two meters), these red and yellow beauties are perfect for naturalizing and are looking generally in the gardens up again after May May

Fifth Single Late

Originally known as Cottage tulips, these hybrids inter-mingled and successfully merged with Darwin hybrids. Darwin, grow well over 2 meters high andflower in May.

Sixth Lily-flowered

Another May-flowering tulip, this group was originally grouped with Cottage tulips but was reclassified in 1958. On the stem, to 1 ½ to 2 m high growth, long, shapely flowers have more petals that resemble native turkish tulips and boast the first scented tulip, the dancer was in her company.

Seventh Shuffle

A short (12-18 inches), but significant group of tulips that illuminates the May garden with ruffles thatadd a mirror or contrast with the rest of the flower.

8th Viridiflora

May blooms with a flash point of the green stripe through their leaves, that group of tulips varies from one to two meters high.

Ninth Rembrandt

Once highly valued by gardeners, today these tulips are nearly obsolete. Although tinged with interruptions of fine art and stripes, it was discovered that they can spread a virus that spread to other varieties of tulips have been created.Although some suppliers still offer the Rembrandt tulips are no longer commercially grown and advertised types are generally in proportion to the true Rembrandt cultivars.

10th Parrot

A riot of petals that roll in all directions to see the flowers that could use some cleaning. However, they are not named for their resemblance to feathers, but is similar to bud, the beak of a parrot. Some of these are scented varieties bloom in May. Usually grow 16 to24 inches tall.

11 Double Late (Peony flower)

Although less is growing resistant to weather, peony flowered varieties are another excellent choice for container tulip. From mid-May to the end of this high (1 ½ to 2 feet) blooms bear abundant blooms close similarity with its namesake.

12 ° Kaufmanniana

If you have difficulty pronouncing the name of that group, you can also call its cultivars 'water lily tulips'. Opening flat under the mid-MarchSun, the foliage of these flowers of deep purple or brown spots marked. Shorter than some other varieties Kaufmanniana is only 6-12 cm high.

13 Fosteriana

Greig Kaufmanniana crossed with "sponsored" this division. 8 to 18 cm tall, these tulips add drama in the garden in April with foliage varies from green to gray-green, glossy.

14th Greig

Another short (8-12 mm), in addition to the spring garden (late March earlyApril), striking wavy edged foliage provides the perfect backdrop for an eruption of upright blooms, petals in the center of a frame of flared-out.

15th Species

The last and the least? This group is truly the dwarf (4-12 cm) of the tulip family. But they are easy to naturalize and their cheerful blooms repeat year after year anytime from March to May, although some varieties are sown freely! They are the ultimate proof that good things come in smallPackages!

Planting tulip bulbs

Although in the Netherlands after the end of the 16th Century native tulips grown in the mountains of Turkey. There, the winters are cold, are the spring rains are abundant and have cold winters, plenty of water in spring, and the rest of the year is good ... hot! Tulips need the warmth of summer sun to ripen next year's flower buds. However, they need the cold of winter to rest for their lively emergenceSpring.

Generally, unplanted bulbs are difficult to maintain during the winter. Once evening temperatures dip 50F, it is time they put into the ground. Autumn is also the best time to nourish your tulips. Before you begin planting bulbs, work nutrient rich compost through the soil. Although bulbs will grow in almost any terrain, the richer your soil is, the bigger your bulb lift will be next summer. Good drainage is another crucial factor, so that the healthy tubers.

Cooler twothree times their height. For compact display, plant them closely, but not touch. The main part of a light bulb, the rounded side, the side has stressed the part that is open and the leaves and flower buds sprout.

Container Tulip Tips

Select the container size depending on the amount of your variety and density of planting, the bulb. water dispenser is the same as if it were cultivated tulip garden, so that there is at least ½ inch of soil below the planting.

PlantTulips for indoor forcing in September and October. Place jars in a cool garden (outdoor) and cover with an inch of clean soil. When growth is greater than about ½ inch to 1 inch, transfer them indoors to a dark room with a maximum temperature of 60F. Allow to extend the stems for about three weeks and return to a lit area with a slightly higher temperature.

Use fresh potting soil mixtures based only. Peat based mixtures may burn the roots of your bulbs and soil lessMixtures dry too quickly.

If putting containers outdoors, protect them from severe frosts particularly through the piercing winds. Save in a cool place like your garage or wrap with bags or straw and cover them with plastic bags until the climate more friendly Tulip.

It 'important to keep tulip containers sufficiently watered. Anders grown as garden plants, not in deeper water containers found in their environment. Dry pots result in stunted andshriveled flower heads.

Tulip Care

When tulips are done flowering, or cut the stem or deadhead the bloom. However, let the leaves die naturally. This is the time of the bulb takes the nutrients needed for growth next year. If the foliage color changes, to remove "tulip fire", which can poison your soil to prevent. This is also a good time for all the tulip bulbs that you remove from your garden a lift.

Lifting bulbs is as easy as you digearth or out of the pot. Usually each bloom produces one good-sized bulb and two smaller offshoots that can be thrown away. That raised bulbs air dry. Then save it in a cool place in an airy container (net sacks and bags work well), to provide good circulation until next planting season.

Tulip Problems

If tulip leaves but no flowers, the most likely cause of damage caused by slugs or snails produce. Although liquids are murderersAvailable at most garden centers, most of them toxic to beneficial organisms and insects in your garden and pets and your family. The easiest way to get the penetration of your tulip snail deterrent is a barrier of lava or diatomaceous earth around to create tulips. Both have sharp edges that kill invading pests by cutting into his skin and let it dry. Another effective way to check the traps with worm is the beer. Partially filled cans buried up to her lower lip is to winSnails and drown.

Frost Gardens

Depending on where you live your outdoor garden, can with a risk of frost. Even in warmer climates like Florida and Southern California frost creep during the autumn and winter months, and wreak havoc on your flowers, plants and crops. Fortunately, there are a number of high quality antifreeze products on the market that you can use to save your crop from frost chilling.

During the day, the plants absorb the sun's heat and save energy, but ifAt night the temperature drops and lost the heat, and when no help clouds in the sky or the wind, to isolate the plants may freeze at sub-freezing plant cells die. This can be done in warm climates, even in unusually cold weather moves in, if you know a cold front moves in the cold and to take the necessary measures to protect your garden.

One possibility for the protection of the gardens before the cold of plants and flowers with a lidhigh quality fabrics such as frost mean weight N-Sulat's, permeable to UV treated cloth designed to protect garden plants from frost. A well-made frozen tissue can be protected draped loosely over plants and firmly anchored to the ground so that it remains in force. If the frost is gone, simply remove the lid and keep the Serbian front for the next cold.

As with frost cloth blankets are another good way to protect plants from sudden seasonalFrost. Equipped with a 3 oz fabric resists tearing, keep warm, the wind, but still photos blocks water and nutrients to pass through thermal blankets are easy to use and can be carefully folded and stored when not in use.

If flowers or plant type, your non-resistant and are susceptible to frost and then consider a cold frame to protect tender plants. Cold frames are built fences transparent roof down, the land used forProtection of plants and flowers from cold. The lens allows sunlight into heat and keeps mostly to the track and a miniature greenhouse. There are many different models of frames cold frames plants you choose. Cold stage with several images will be able to find shelving amount, starting systems and mini greenhouse greenhouse structures. Ideal for cold startSeed and extend the growing season and a couple of extra weeks in the autumn. Cold frames can be kept outside in the gardens are conveniently located in, on terraces and decks and a greenhouse larger.

Strictly formal gardens, symmetry and order

And 'possible to share most of the gardens and other landscapes in two main groups - those informal, natural and asymmetrical, and those that are symmetrical and formal. The informal gardens, even city to bring people look as if it came naturally. Gardens, landscaping, secondly, the effects of people not covered. Instead, they are underlined with straight lines, curved mirror (if all the curves are represented) and a balancedAppearance.

While many gardens cover a large area (like the gardens of Versailles, created in the 17th century, when the idea of formal garden reached its peak) does not need to Extensive. After a few simple principles to provide a smaller garden, the formal effect.

The first principle is symmetry. In a strictly formal garden, your landscape design is combined all the ingredients. What hangs in the middle of the garden, repeat the other half, asa mirror image. But while a symmetrical arrangement (like a hedge on either side a path) creates a "frame" you still need some object of interest for the eyes to move in the direction. A statue of a garden or a place in the middle of 'image' are two possibilities. This could be the place for two large urns are placed in a uniform, full of colorful petunias and violas.

The second principle is cleanliness. Shrubs in a formal garden are carefully cut and shaped - sometimes in artificialForms, as in topiary work, where you create unusual shapes, with time and patience. Plants can be trained on arches back or along fences, growing in areas that would not be taken as a rule in nature. Such agreements are particularly useful in small rooms they can have a formal agreement, a pleasant and relaxing effect.

The third principle is accuracy. Use an eighth brick mowing strip into a lawn edger, is cut clean. During informal gardens with local materialsas close to nature, this is not a formal garden, where you can use stone, brick or concrete as required to achieve the look is required necessary refined. Add formal hedges (also circumcised, of course) a third dimension. You can cut into various shapes, including arches and display bays. Similarly, uniformly distributed metal arches covered with climbing plants such as roses can add height.

Rose gardens are suitable for formal treatment. Plywood nowgravel paths and box hedges and kept free from regular hoeing weeds, which offer a combination of beauty and formalities please never fails.