How to plant Tulips for Curb Appeal

Ah, tulips. The unofficial hype girls of Spring. You drive by a house and BAM—blooms so pretty you’re suddenly reconsidering your life choices, your lawn, and whether you should take up gardening or just hire someone who knows what they’re doing.

Hi, I'm Kristina Browning, your local real estate agent and Home Functionality Coach here in Oregon City, Oregon. I help homes look their absolute best before they hit the market—and yes, that includes what’s going on outside. Because no matter how beautiful your kitchen is, if your front yard looks like a haunted pumpkin patch, buyers will keep on scrolling.

So, let’s talk tulips and how to plant them for maximum curb appeal. Spoiler alert: you need more bulbs than you think. Probably double whatever number you're thinking.

Red Oxford Tulip. 20-22" tall. Mid to late spring blooming.

🌷 Tulip Planting Basics (Let’s Get the Dirt-y Details Out of the Way)

• Depth matters. Plant your tulip and daffodil bulbs about 6 inches deep. Don’t eyeball it like you're seasoning a stew—get out the trowel and measure.

• Timing is everything. Tulip varieties bloom early, mid, or late season. You can stagger for a longer bloom time, or go all-in on one big, jaw-dropping show. Personally? I like a good ol' Spring moment. Drama, but make it botanical.

• Location, location, location. Plant bulbs in areas that are okay to be a little empty in summer. Because unless you want to be out there digging up bulbs with a butter knife, they’ll just chill underground until next year.

  

  All white blooms, designed by Amy Killam.

🎨 Be Strategic With Color (A.K.A. Don't choose "all of the colors." That's not a real palette.)

Listen. I get it. The tulip section at the garden store is like a Skittles commercial and that feels exciting. But for curb appeal that looks intentional (read: not chaotic), stick to one color or one very curated palette.

Why? Because the eye needs somewhere to go. And if every bloom is shouting for attention like it’s auditioning for “The Voice,” your curb appeal game suffers. Clusters of one color? Clean. Tidy. Chic. Need inspo? I'm here for it. See clusters below. It’s the Pinterest board of my dreams and trust me, it sells houses if you are aiming to be on the market in April when these babies are in their full glory.

Darwin Hybrid Tulip; likely the Pink Impression variety.

🏡 Design With the Whole Year in Mind

Spring is fleeting, but your yard is forever (well… sort of). Plan your entire landscape with the year in mind. That means:

Designed by Amy Killam.

• Perennials and shrubs that fill in once the tulips peace out.

• Strategic placement of tulips in beds where summer growth will hide the “Where did the flowers go?” phase.

• Large pots? Yes, please. Plop some tulips near your front door for instant charm—and swap them out with summer flowers later. Easy.

🌟 Pro Tip: Flank That Walkway

There’s nothing like walking up to a home with tulips lining the path like you're royalty. And when it’s time to list? Instant wow-factor in every photo. Darwin Hybrid tulips are the gold standard here. Strong stems, giant blooms, and they grow tall—up to 24 inches of “Hello, yes, this home is loved.”

Golden Oxford Tulips are extra large and weather resistant. Very long-lasting in the garden or as a cut flower.

📸 Curb Appeal Sells—Like, Actually

People scroll real estate listings like it’s a dating app for houses. Swipe left on sad grass. Swipe right on tulips and tidy hedges. This is why, when I prep a home for sale here that will be on the market in April, I always recommend a curb appeal consultation. Sometimes adding a few bulbs in the Fall if you're listing in the Spring, a power wash, and a fresh doormat are all it takes to move a home from “meh” to “must-see.” Note; this is why it makes a whole lot of sense to meet with me months in advance of the sale, because things like this really do make a difference but they require advance planning.

💬 Ready to Make Your Home Listing-Ready?

Whether you’re selling now or just want your neighbors to be low-key jealous, I offer curb appeal and home staging consultations to get your property market-ready. Let's make your home the one everyone talks about—in a good way.

📞 Call me, Kristina Browning, at 503-505-3798 or

📬 Reach out through SpaceAndReason.com

Let’s put your tulips (and your home) on display like the showstoppers they are.

Cheers, Kristina

Your Home Functionality Coach® + Oregon City Real Estate Agent

If you enjoyed this, you might also like my weekly (intentionally short) newsletter called "Little Bits of Home Functionality." You’ll see a video with a tip, or a trick and as always, I pose questions for you to think through about your space and your reasons. {Subscribe HERE.}