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Autumn marks the ideal period for getting on top of garden maintenance, readying lawns and flower borders to flourish through winter and into the following year. It's also the moment to prep your plants for next spring, and there's one particular flower bulb you ought to consider sowing now, reports the Express.

Green-fingered expert and TikTok creator Ish encouraged fellow gardeners to focus on their tulip cultivation, explaining now represents the ideal moment to get them prepared for blooming. He revealed some straightforward steps to guarantee your tulip bulbs are primed and ready.

Ish explained: "It's time to plant tulip bulbs. Tulips are incredibly easy to plant up and enjoy in late spring time so pop some in your pots or in the ground."

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Ish highlighted that the leaves was dropping from his acers, which he noted signals the ideal moment to sow tulips for the coming year. He explained: "Tulips, unlike other spring bulbs, have to be planted a little bit later. Reason being, they're slightly later in terms of when they come out to flower, and if you do it a little too early, there's a chance they can slightly rot.

"They don't like too much moisture but they do love the cold. And late October all the way through until early December is the optimal time to get these planted."

You can either sow tulips in the soil or in a container. Ish suggested planting the bulbs two to three times the height of the bulb itself.

He revealed: "As a result, it will stay anchored into the ground and nice and solid to give you a tall tulip, but not a floppy one."

When planting the bulbs in containers, ensure there's a small gap between each one so they're not touching one another. Make certain they're also not pressed against the pot's edges, as this shields them from frost damage when colder temperatures arrive.

Should you spot any bulbs sprouting tiny green shoots, there's no cause for concern. Ish recommended covering them and leaving them undisturbed, as the winter conditions will naturally keep their growth in check.

Cover the bulbs with a thick layer of multipurpose compost. Ish explained: "Whether it's in the ground or a pot, leave it to the elements and it'll take care of itself throughout till spring."

To stop squirrels or other creatures from excavating your valuable bulbs, Ish proposed covering the soil with winter bedding plants such as violas or pansies.

He noted: "Not only does it look nice throughout the winter and stops your pots looking boring, but it stops them from digging through.

"And the cool thing is is that the bulbs are actually strong enough to grow through this and create a beautiful dual layer, which looks incredibly professional, especially for such a simple job."

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