Expert: Kenneth Joergensen - 3/12/2006

Question
Hello!
I have planted over three hundred tulips and misc bulbs this last fall.  I live in Michigan.
Today I was outside and the weather was beautiful, 62.  As I was walking around I noticed that some of tulips were up about 2 inches out of the ground.  We are expecting a snow fall later this week. Will this hurt them?
I was actually going to purchase more dirt today to cover them as I see the critters have been making critter condos in there over the winter leaving my beds with holes everywhere.  Any other suggestions?
Thank you so much!

Answer
It is normal for spring flowering bulbs to come up during periods of relatively warm weather only to stop growth while the temperatures fall when snow/freezing returns. This will not hurt spring flowering bulbs. You have probably seen pictures of daffodils or crocus flowering through a snow cover.

The only time I would be a bit concerned is when the flower buds develop (much later). Especially in some spring flowering bulbs, like certain hybrid varities of daffodils, the so-called "bud blast" effect can happen as the frost snaps the flowers in bud. However, this is after flower buds form (not just foliage). This is most common in the south where temperatures are in the 70's and 80's and then falling rapidly to freezing in a few hours. This is very very seldom a concern in Michigan.



Spring flowering bulbs are used to varying temperatures and will grow in spurts.

I.e. do not worry.

I do not recommend covering the bulbs with more soil. Digging by animals (especially squirrels) are common and not much you can do. Most related to acorn hiding anyway. If you are concerned, try to cover the soil with evergreen branches as it can keep some of them away.