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Tulips, arguably the most beloved of all spring bulbs, are cherished by gardeners across the globe, and they rank amongst my personal favourites as well. Bold and colourful, these bulbs command admiration when in flower to sustain a striking display.

Nevertheless, I have lately observed the tulips in my garden have begun to wilt and are nearing the end of their seasonal cycle. This signals the ideal moment to deadhead these blooms, as recommended by Monty Don. Tulips deliver a magnificent floral spectacle each spring, but once flowering concludes and the petals start to fall, it is time to deadhead your plants.

Last year, I deadheaded my tulips between late April and early May, and they returned looking magnificent this year.

I followed Monty's guidance from his gardening blog, where he stated: "If you have tulips growing in borders, deadhead them once they are past their best."

"This will stop the development of seed so that all the energy goes into forming new bulbs for next year's flowers."

While you can employ secateurs to deadhead tulips, I favour simply pinching off the flower head and removing no more than two inches from the stem using my fingers.

You need not cut the entire stem down to the plant's base, as it is advised that you retain the stem in position.

The green fleshy stem of the tulip is capable of photosynthesis, which enables it to produce energy for the bulb. If most of the stem is cut away, the bulb's energy generation diminishes. Should you wish to neaten up your plants, carefully folding the foliage downwards or plaiting it together will smarten their appearance without causing any harm.

As I was keen for my tulips to return in the same spot, I deadheaded them, though if you fancy moving them to a different location, some digging will be necessary.

Should you wish to transplant them for the following year, lift the tulips out once they have finished flowering, keep them in your shed or garage, and put them back in the ground come autumn.

Tulip bulbs are best planted in autumn from late October through November to December. When planting, ensure the pointed end faces upwards, spacing them roughly 8cm apart at a depth of three times the bulb's height, before covering over with soil.

If replanting is not on your agenda, the tulip bulbs can simply be added to your compost heap.