Monty Don shares five-minute job to make tulips last longer next year

Those who love tulips likely know that the stunning spring-flowering plants typically last a mere three weeks before they begin to fade and perish.

Nevertheless, renowned gardening expert Monty Don has revealed a simple, five-minute trick that could see these prized blooms return stronger and more vigorous in their next blooming cycle - deadheading.

As reported by the Express, Monty advised in his blog: "If you have tulips growing in borders, deadhead them once they are past their best."

Deadheading involves the elimination of seed pods which halts their development, leaving all remaining energy is focused towards the formation of new bulbs for the following year's flowering. Better yet, this straightforward task does not require the use of gardening tools such as shears - rather it merely necessitates the removal of decaying and deceased flower petals by hand.

Monty explained further: "The best way to deadhead them is simply to snap off the spent flower with the growing seed pod using your fingers."

This assiduous act of care encourages the plant to devote more energy to bulb production for future flowering cycles, instead of inefficiently expending on spent flowers. Moreover, deadheading aids the plant in storing additional energy, resulting in more vigorous tulips replete with an abundance of flowers in the ensuing spring.

However, it is crucial not to touch the stem or leaves of the tulip as this part of the plant fuels the flower's growth for the following year. Tulips utilise their leaves to generate energy, so trimming the foliage can risk the plant not re-growing the next year.

Even when the plant is wilting or turning brown, do not cut back the leaves, as the dying foliage aids in nourishing the bulbs for next year's blooms, enabling them to grow back stronger.

Monty added: "Do not cut back the stem or any of the foliage as this will all contribute to the growing bulbs as they slowly die back."

Deadheading tulips and leaving their foliage untouched is a straightforward task that can assist gardeners in having a brilliantly blooming garden next spring when the tulips start flowering again.

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