Replanting Bulbs

I have a bit of a green thumb with house plants, so I've decided it's time to move on to my badly neglected garden outside. I need to remove some grass and weeds from the flowerbeds, but there are crocus, daffodil, and tulip bulbs that I don't want to destroy. If I dig up the garden and replant the bulbs, will that work? What is the best time of year to do this?

Early fall is the best time to do this. Most will be blooming now (assuming you are in the Northern hemisphere) unless you are in CA or FL, etc. In that case you are way past bloom and can probably move them. I wouldn't move any until the foilage dies back.

LimeyLisa Kay

I usually dig up and move my spring-flowering bulbs in July and August, but if your bulbs have finished flowering, you can move them now. The foliage may, or may not die back prematurely, which would interfere with bloom next year, but it shouldn't kill them.

I moved some Naked Lady bulbs a couple weeks ago, and the foliage is all dying, so they probably won't bloom this year, but I think they'll bloom just fine in a year or so.

Danak, if you pull what grass and weeds that you can and then mulch to supress weed growth for a few weeks you can enjoy this year's blooms and give the plants time to feed themselves. When the leaves get really ugly you can dig them up and replant after you remove the weeds without hurting the bulbs at all. Have fun!

Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions! We had a beautiful weekend, and I had great intentions to do some work in our garden, but it's such a daunting task when you don't really know what you're doing. Now I have some ideas-- thanks!

--Dana

danak,
welcome to dg. i am into my 5th season of gardening and i just love it. i was lucky enough to find dg when i started, just like you. it has saved me many times from doing the wrong thing and i have learned so much from the members here. just yesterday i was typing here asking another question. so welcome and keep asking those questions, they help old and new gardeners alike.
debi z