We have had some unseasonably warm weather lately and I noticed that my tulips are starting to come up. I was hoping that someone could tell me if I should just let them go or cover them with something? Temperatures at this time of year are usually in the 30's with snow. Lately, they have been 40-50F. Today was almost 60!! I want my bulbs to come up in the spring and I am afraid that when it gets really cold again it will kill the bulbs. Any advice is appreciated.
Late, deep planting is supposed to help prevent this. However, if this is not a new planting the timing would have been determined by the bulbs. The depth would still be the same as when first put in. Recommended planting depths for some bulbs, including tulips can be much deeper than many would tend to do--especially if topsoil is shallow. If leaf tips (or more) burn later the rest can still develop. You can't really mulch the sprouted foliage, the debris tends to fall down into the vaselike sprouts. If there seems a definite basis for concern cut conifer boughs placed over the tulips when hard weather is forecast might work.
This is common in southern Ontario, although usually in late February or early March. Usually the bulb foliage pops up an inch or so and then sits until spring. I am not at all surprised at this happening with the strange weather we are having this year. I have never lost bulbs because of this. More often than not the foliage will suffer some damage but the flower will be just fine. If there is snow around, I pile it on top. If not, I do nothing. I have had flower buds appear long before they actually open with no ill effects.
Thank you for the replies!! They bulbs were planted three years ago. There is less than an inch of foliage showing. I suppose I will just "watch and wait". Its normal for tupils around here to start coming up around March - sometimes in late February, weather depending. But December?!? Thanks again!!
