Help..please....EE looking bad....

Can anyone tell me what I should do with my EE bulbs...they have been here in the ground for about four years, and they are really looking mushy, and like some of them are rotting, along with the fact that for some reason they have come to the top of the soil...I know there are a lot of them under ground as well, but I didn't know what I need to do if anything I don't want to loose them. I found a few slugs eating on them and like I said the tops of them are mushy and gross...I pulled some off and you can see they are rotting (looks like it to me anyway) and I wasn't sure if I can fix this..so thanks for any ideas you might have...
JanetS

I think they'll be fine-mine looked like that last year and they survived.

Do you think I need to separate some of them? There must be thirty or more bulbs there together...

Yes, I think you should separate them. Put some of them in a box and send them to me. LOL

I find digging them up and drying them out each year gives them renewed vigor .
And have not had that rotting problem . My EE are now over 6 ft tall .

I'd wait until they come up a bit before separating, but surely there's someone smarter than me that can help!

It looks like they are drying out a bit, which is good. I'm leaving mine alone until I see leaves come out.

Mendy, that is doable! I think there are too many there now...they really went crazy last year...so I most likely will dig some out.....Ginger, should I dig them all out and then replant later?

Thanks Tropicana....I am mostly afraid that they are all going to rot..lol

I was kidding, Janet. But, if you are going to dig them anyway.............I would LOVE some! Let me know what I owe you!

I have dug them out at almost any stage .
Full growth or Totally dormant . etc .
Just don`t let them sweat in plastic bags .
They think they are dying and get a massive growth spurt .

Okay, so I shoul lift them, and let them dry out....for how long before I replant...or before I ship....can I go ahead and ship them if I wrap them in news print? no plastic....what do you think?

When I send mine around Aus. I just buy a Cardboard Mail Box .
I wash and dry them first for at least 2 days .
Cut off all the roots and leaf stems . And divide if necessary .

Sounds like a plan...thanks Ginger....I will see what I have out there..could be a lot more than I bargained for...but I have to DO something or it will drive me crazy..