Tulip Naturalising Mix of 5 Varieties

Tulip bulbs for naturalising

Our Tulip Naturalising Collection gives a vibrant mix of vivid blooms that will bring armfuls of colour to your garden throughout April and May.

Tulips will grow very happily in and beautify grasslands, orchards, roadside verges and hedgerows as well as putting colour into your beds and borders at a time of year when most of the garden is still waking up. If you are not quite sure which varieties you want, this mix will serve you well. These are all trouble free bulbs that will sit quite happily out of sight for most of the year and surprise you when they show their heads in spring. If you would rather choose your own varieties that take a look at our range of tulips here

This collection of premium tulip bulbs is made up exclusively of varieties that are known for reliable flowering.

Their colours contrast and complement one another, and the collection also boasts 2 fragrant varieties, although all are also ideal for cutting and bringing indoors.

The basic technique for naturalising is simple: chose the area you want to plant and then randomly scatter the tulip bulbs on the ground. Plant them where they have landed. The spacing will be uneven, and that's the idea - you will create a natural, spontaneous feel.

Plant Care

Tulips like to be planted in the Autumn. Plant the bulbs at least twice as deep as the bulb is high (15-20cms is good rough guide) and very roughly 10-15cm apart. If planting tulips for naturalising in clumps, allow 7-8 bulbs per 30cm square. When planting in pots, a dozen bulbs per 12-inch container will give an excellent display.

Tulips will grow in almost any soil and they will thank you for years afterwards if it is improved with some well rotted organic matter such as garden compost and a little bit of bonemeal, What is important however is that they have good drainage. Like most bulbs they hate wet ground and will rot. Drainage is especially important in containers; they like moisture, but must not stand in water. The bulbs in this naturalising mix would always choose full sun if they could, but will do very well in light shade.

Don't feed tulip bulbs during the growing season as this will tend to produce leggy growth. If planting in containers, protect the pots from severe frost/wind by wrapping them up in straw or bubble wrap, or simply storing in the garage. Bulbs must be watered in dry periods leading up to flowering.

Dead-head once the flowers have faded and remove the seed pod, but don't cut the foliage back until it has died down naturally as this will impede flowering in following years. By all means give them a bit of food after they have flowered and before the foliage has yellowed.

When tulips become overcrowded, flower size and frequency suffers. Then it is time to mark them in spring before the leaves die. Dig the clumps up in August or early September, separate the bulbs and replant.

Look Out For...

Keep a watchful eye out for slugs and snails as the plants emerge. Take all your usual precautions until they are growing strongly.