When you shop for bulbs be sure to select the ones that are firm and plump; the bulbs with mold or soft spots will probably suffer bulb rot. Make sure to find the right area for planting your tulips and prepare the soil. The soil needs to be free of clumps and should be loose in order for the tulips to thrive; this can be accomplished by digging down about twelve inches. Instructions for the planting depth of your bulbs should be included with your bulbs when you purchase them. If they are not there is a general guideline for planting; they should be planted to a depth of about three times the height of the bulb.
So, if a bulb is two inches, dig down six inches place the bulb on the bottom and fill with soil about four inches high. The spacing of bulbs should be about twice their width. You can also plant farther apart if you wish or closer together; planting closer will give your flower bed a beautiful showing when they begin to bloom.
You can use a trowel or bulb planter for digging a hole in your prepared soil for planting a single bulb in each hole. If you are going to plant several tulips just use the trowel and dig a trough deep enough and long enough to plant several bulbs at one time, this will save you a lot of time. When you plant the bulb make sure the pointed side is up and the flat side is on the bottom. Sometimes you may find some bulbs that are hard to tell the pointed side from the flat side; if this is the case just plant it on its side, the bulb will send its roots into the ground and sprouts to the top of the soil. Once planted backfill the hole making sure to get rid of air pockets by patting the soil down lightly as you go, then water your bulbs completely afterwards.
Even if you decide to plant tulips in containers they still need planting during fall and winter outside. You always want to select a container or pot that has drainage holes; fill the bottom with a layer of small rocks or pea gravel for drainage. Plant your bulbs in some good potting soil that is not too heavy with peat because you want the water to drain so the bulbs do not rot by sitting in water. If the potting soil has too much peat, mix in some sand to help increase drainage. Fill the container with soil deep enough so when you place the bulb in and place soil on top the bulb's tip will be three to four inches from the top layer of soil. You can plant bulbs closer together in containers, roughly 1/4" to 1/2" apart. Plant your bulbs the same as you would for planting in the ground with the pointed side up. You can also place a layer of mulch, about two inches deep, on top of the soil for protection from harsh winter weather.
After you have planted your 
flower bulbs in the container water them thoroughly. Place the containers in the garden or yard that gets protection from the sun and harsh temperatures; a good area would be close to bushes or hedges. If you live in an area that has very harsh winters you want to place them in an unheated garage so the bulbs will not freeze solid. The bulbs will freeze much easier if planted in containers so they will need more protection. When you begin to see the first shoots coming from the tulip bulbs in spring, place the container in full sun and give it a good watering.
You can lightly top the soil with a mixture of compost and bone meal for extra nutrients about a month before your tulips bloom. Once the bloom fades away, cut it off so the plant's energy goes back to the bulb instead of continuing to feed a faded flower. After they bloom, let the leaves yellow for a couple of months before you cut them back; by this time the leaves will come freely off the plant and they have fed the bulbs. Some varieties of tulips will multiply so do not be surprised when you dig up more tulip bulbs than you planted.
