The No-Work Way to Plant Tulips

Here’s an unconventional tip for planting tulips this fall: skip digging the holes entirely. This technique is known as “Till and Fill.” Instead of the recommended 6 to 7-inch deep holes, simply plant the bulbs two inches deep.

Sounds surprising, right? However, the Cornell Flower Bulb Research Program discovered this method over a decade ago, though the information hasn’t been widely shared. So why have gardeners been working so hard?

Method No. 1: The Annual Tulip Bed

Think of an annual tulip bed like those in Keukenhof, Holland or on Park Avenue. Prepare the bed—whether square, rectangular, or oval—by rototilling or loosening the soil with a garden fork to just a few inches deep.

Place the tulip bulbs on the soil surface tightly, like eggs in a carton, leaving about half an inch between each bulb. This “top planting” method was promoted by William B. Miller, former professor of horticulture and director of Cornell’s Flower Bulb Research Program, when the news “Researcher offers toil-free tip to plant tulips” was shared in 2011. Miller called it “a good way to go,” and his lab confirmed its effectiveness.

In this approach, 100 bulbs only cover a small area around two by six feet. For a striking display, more than 100 bulbs are needed—double the number for 24 square feet. This method delivers a stunning impact for one season; no extra fertilizing or bulb care is necessary. You can increase spacing to an inch apart if you want the display to cover a larger area.

Next, mulch the bed. Your local municipality might provide free mulch made from shredded branches and bark—if so, get a truckload. Straw is a good alternative as it’s light and free from weed seeds found in hay. Leaves tend to get compacted and soggy unless chopped. Ideally, use a mix of these materials. Apply a 4-inch thick layer of mulch and water it if the soil below is dry. That’s all there is to it.

This “Till and Fill” method requires no digging at all. After tulips bloom in spring, rake out the bulbs and mulch from the bed.

Like Keukenhof and Park Avenue, the bulbs are treated as annuals. Keukenhof keeps them mulched; Park Avenue donates theirs. Don’t wait for the leaves to die back. To store bulbs for replanting, lay them on a tarp in the sun to dry. The bed can then be used for tomatoes, dahlias, or a mix of summer flowers.

Method No. 2: The Perennial Tulip Bed

Bill Miller returned in 2019 with advice in a Cornell Flower Bulb Research Program newsletter to minimize digging when planting. He urges gardeners to disregard the usual 5 to 6 inches depth and opt for “shallower planting” instead.

Forget the drill; Cornell’s test beds show planting bulbs as shallow as two inches, covering with soil, and mulching—even in Cornell’s 5b hardiness zone—results in the most prolific tulip blooms after three years. Here’s how:

Dig a shallow bed two inches deep. Using a rototiller in fall helps loosen soil and ease the task. Lightly sprinkle BulbTone 3-5-3 fertilizer over the soil. Plant bulbs about four inches apart to give roots and bulblets room to grow. Refill soil with a shovel, then add mulch, topping if desired with leaves or straw so the overall mulch depth totals 4 inches.

Miller’s Cornell studies showed that tulips planted deeply don’t return as reliably each year as those planted shallowly, as long as gardeners maintain a thick mulch each winter. For a perennial bed, 100 tulip bulbs cover roughly 20 square feet.

How much do tulips cost? Bulk bags of 100 yellow Rotteveel Darwin tulips are available for around $42.56 on Amazon. Darwin tulips bloom mid-season with tall stems. Buying the same variety ensures synchronized blooms. Tulip World offers Darwins for $7 to $10 per 25 bulbs.

Linda Lee

Linda Lee is a former writer and editor at The New York Times.