How to Dig Up Tulip Bulbs

Gently removing tulip bulbs at the end of the blooming season, then replanting in the fall leads to each bulb producing flowers for a few years. It’s easy to dig them up with the proper tools, and storing them is simple, too. 

You need

• Small hand spade


• Hand claw rake


• Plastic bin or bucket


• Trimmers

1. Remove the seed heads when the tulips have stopped blooming.  This directs energy to the stems and bulbs.


2. Loosen the soil around the tulip plants using a hand claw rake. Make sure to start this process about four-inches away from the base of the plant.


3. Use the spade and dig straight down into the soil. Don’t dig at an angle, as you may inadvertently cut into the tulip bulb. Loosen the dirt all the way around the plants.


4. With your hand, pull gently until the bulb comes up from the dirt. If you meet resistance, loosen the dirt some more. You may not have dug deep enough to free the bulb.


5. Gently brush the bulbs to remove the soil. There will still be roots attached. Store the bulbs in a container until you are ready to replant in the fall.


6. Remove leaves from the bulbs because they turn brown during storage.


7. Replant the bulbs in the same location or move to a shady area. Tulips can do well in shaded areas without any extensive soil preparation. Some tulips will not re-bloom, even if you are careful, especially the more delicate varieties. They are prone to losing their vigor in just one season.