Tulips And What To Grow Now

[phleb]

My tulips were beautiful while they lasted. Now they have died and i have long stalks hanging about everywhere, looking terrible. I want to clear them away and plant something pretty that will do well at this time and for a few months after.

Can i cut all the stalks and replant stuff over them?, but obviously i still have the tulips to come out again next year.

Please tell me how to do this, and what is the best thing to plant now.

Many thanks

[woofgang]

if you cut the tulip stalks and leaves off before they are dead, then you are less likely to get tulip flowers next year as its after flowering that the bulb draws nourishment from the leaves to make next years flowers. Are they in the ground or in tubs?

[phleb]

In the ground. I can see lot of big red bulbs popping out of the ground around the tulips. So what do you suggest? thanks

[phleb]

How can i tell if they are dead? There are no flowers on the stalks.

[MargoTester]

The leaves and stalks will go yellow and will come out of the ground with a gentle pull. If you have to use any force they are not ready to be removed.

[woofgang]

Can you post a pic of the big red bulbs? what have you planted?

[phleb]

I haven't planted anything else yet. I will send you pic of the red bulbs, give me a little time to upload it. What shall i plant now?

[mightymouse]

Look in your garden centres for Salvia 'Amistad', truly beautiful......if you like purple. This will flower until the first Autumn frosts, and return each year provided you are in the south of the UK and don't have heavy clay soil.

[woofgang]

it sounds like there is something else there already...if its plants you may not need more and if its weeds, you will need to remove them before planting anything else.

[Chipchopper]

As a guess, I'd say the 'red bulbs' are the tulip bulbs that have turned red in the sun......no seriously, and are now ready for lifting.
Push a fork under the bulbs and leaver it back, while gently pulling the stem with the other hand, they should come out easy and they can be saved/stored for autumn planting.

[phleb]

Sorry, i cant seem to upload a photo for some reason. After careful observation, i have noticed the red bulbs are sticking out from the bottom of the tulip stalks, and as chipchopper advised, i gave them a slight tug and the stalks came away easily, they were yellow. There are still some in there, but they are green, so i will leave them for a while. Oh and i have taken the bulbs out of the ground ready to replant. So it is starting to look more tidy now. These dreaded slugs are everywhere. Thanks darlings x

[phleb]

Mightymouse, i am off to the garden centre to look into the Salvia 'Amistad'. thanks x