bulb care

I'm tired of my bulbs doing poorly. They bloom nice the first year but in a couple of years that fade away...Obviously... I need to fertilize them and probably more importantly divide them. I have 2 small clumps of daffs from a coop...this is their second blooming spring. I would like to take better care of them...what should I do ?

charlotte

Some spring flower bulbs just tend to do poorly as time goes by (tulips in particular). Others can produce good results for many years with some care.

Fertilize in early spring just as the foliage show above ground, and again when flowering (or when flowering just finished). When using fertilizers in early spring, try to use one which is based on ammonium nitrate (such as 5-10-10, or 10-20-20) as opposed to urea or organic fertilizers. This is due to the cold soil in early spring.

Deadhead larger flowers (daffodils, hyacinths, tulips). I don't bother with smaller plants like crocus.

Every 3-4 years, dig larger clumbs of daffodils and seperate them. Replant larger bulbs and throw small bulbs away.

Even with above, tulips tend to degrade over a period of years, and must be replaced. Some tulips do a lot better than others (try the tall PINK PARADE darwin hybrids).

All bulbs must have their green foliage left intact after flowering. Water if necerssary during this period if the ground is really dry and temperatures are high. The longer the foliage will stay green and photosynthesize, the better result you have at the end of the year. It is not uncommon for bulbs to add 25-30% or more weight during the period from flowering until leaves die back. If you cut leaves back (or deer eat them) or you do not provide adequate fertilizer, water, and sunshine to promote the regeneration, bulbs will decline.

This should give good results.

Good luck

-- Kenneth

Thanks Kenneth ..