Tulips will do well in almost any type of soil, but good drainage is important, Vandervlugt said. In this area, tulips are planted most typically from September to November. Bulbs can be planted in trenches or holes 6 to 8 inches deep in well loosened soil. Most species prefer partial shade to full sun. Bulbs can be spaced 1 inch to 4 or 5 inches apart, depending on how dense you want the flowers, Vandervlugt said.
Tulips generally bloom about two to three weeks every spring for three to five years.
Once tulips have stopped blooming, cut the seed pods off so the plant's energy is concentrated in the bulb and not making seeds. Don't cut off the leaves, they will die in a few weeks after blooming. After several years of blooming, tulips will naturally die out. When this happens Vandervlugt plants new bulbs in the old bed. I highly recommend home gardeners interplant tulips with perennials such as peonies, poppies, iris, daylilies, hostas, black-eyed Susans and mums.