Expert: Kenneth Joergensen - 4/23/2005

Question
Help! I am in Zone 6 (PA, 15236) and have about 30 tulips in mid bloom. This is my first year growing them. Some are not open yet, some are, and they are beautiful. Tonight we are supposed to get a surprise snow of 2-4", although it is not supposed to go below freezing. It's been in the 60's and 70's for the past two weeks. Should I go find a way to cover them so the snow doesn't bend them or crush them at least, and it doesn't collect around them to freeze them? Or would it not matter anyway? I'm just nervous, don't want to lose them.  

Answer
Tulips are very hardy and can withstand severe freezing. Snow will usually not bother tulip buds but open flowers may be damaged slightly (the petals fall) although rain is worse to do that than snow (snow usually just fall off the petals).

I think your tulips will be ok.

After the tulips have finished flowering (petals fall off) cut the top of the flower stem off (but let the tulip foliage stay and do not cut the leaves). Fertilize the tulips now with a bulb or annual plant fertilizer and repeat one more time in 30 days. Let the green leaves stay until they die back (turn yellow and wither) on their own. At that time, you can remove the dead foliage.

The above procedure will ensure that you keep the tulip bulbs for highest number of repeat years.