Mulch around tulips

Spread mulch around the emerging foliage of tulips now. It will give depth to the border and set off the flowers beautifully when they open.

Choose a dry, mild day to go through the border with a hand fork, removing any weeds that have overwintered, digging out all their roots. Carefully aerate the soil immediately around the tulips too.

Then spread a thick layer of garden compost or leafmould on the cleared surface, at least 5cm deep, and level it out by hand around the bulbs.

Weed then mulch areas planted with tulips, in preparation for flowering