Lost Tulips

Can anyone give me any ideas what could have happened to some of the Tulips I planted 2 years ago they flowered lovely last year but this year there are clumps totaly missing. I planted them in groups of about 12 at intervals all down the garden and this year thet are totally gone from the middle speading both sides but still at the ends.I dug where they should have been and there is nothing not even a squashy shell or a bit of skin. Any help would be much apreciated before I loose the rest next year.

 

I think they have legged it Lannia. It was only recently that I understood what the word 'naturalise' means. Naturalise means a plant (usually a bulb) that will thrive and spread when a clump is planted. I assumed all bulbs did this so I did not understand the need for a special word. But most bulbs don't.

I have been told that most Tulips will only last one or two years and then die out. It is the species (naturally occuring ones) that naturalise. The flashy hybrids are disposable. Have a look here.

http://www.theplantexpert.com/springbulbs/Tulip15Botanical.html

 

Tulips need a period of hot dryness to mature after the leaves have died down. This is why it is recommended that one digs up tulips and stores them dry over summer for replanting in autumn. So to a certain extent it depends on where you live, what kind of soil you have and how warm a summer you had, what you do with your tulips.
These were left in and have trebled in quantity, they may not do so over next summer.

 

Fantastic Palustris. But how do you dig them all up? Do you leave them bare or bury in damp compost.

I see the Lion's Teeth are naturalising well. :D

 

As I said, I do not dig them up. they will be fed heavily after flowering with Miraclegrow or something like and hopefully a warm dry summer to ripen the bulbs.
You are most welcome to come and remove the dandelions from the grass if you have a week or so to spare.

 

Its not all that have gone only some clumps from the middle and 3 or 4 either side the rest have flowered again this year. I planted 21 clumps 6 or 7 have gone compleatly others else where in garden are ok its just in the long strip, Most if not all the daffodils have come up again and they are in same places. Fed all with Miracle Grow through out summer left leaves to die back thoght I had done everything right for them

 

Squirrels?