My daffodils have been flowering for some time since just after xmas,now they are all droopy and don't look that great do i just leave them to die off or is there something i should be doing with them and do i need to lift the bulbs or do they stay in ground novice gardner.
2007-03-28 23:15:17 · 4 answers · asked by Mea 5 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
Daffodils need to keep their leaves until they are completely spent, the energy that they get from the sun is put back into the bulb for next years bloom. They get rather unsightly, but just leave them alone until they are brown and crispy, then clip off the dead leaves, (don't yank on them- as you may pull the bulb from the ground). Leaving the bulbs where they are will allow them to multiply. In fall, sprinkle some bone meal right over them (leaving the soil undisturbed) and next year you'll be blessed with an even bigger show.
2007-03-28 23:38:19 · answer #1 · answered by illbegone_likeabatouttahell 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cut the spent flowers off, then leave them alone until the leaves wither. Cutting the flowers off will keep the plants energy from going to seed development and will strengthen the bulb. The bulb regenerates from the photosynthesis of the leaves. That's why you don't want to cut the leaves until they have withered. You can tie them loosely and plant stuff around them to help the unsightly appearance.
You can dig them up every few years in the fall to spread them out, but it's not really necessary.
2007-03-29 01:18:26 · answer #2 · answered by thegubmint 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Daffodils get their energy for next years blooms thru their stems. They do get nasty looking but be patient for 45 days after they bloom. They can be safely trimmed to the ground at that point.
As soon as hosta becomes available this spring, plant hosta over or next to the daffodils. Next year the hosta leaves will cover the daffodil stems and you won't even see the maturing daffodil stems. Good luck
2007-03-29 02:15:47 · answer #3 · answered by wiffybog 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to do anything. Wow they've been blooming since Dec. you must be doing something right. The only thing is you can cut back the unsightly foliage when it starts turning yellow. Right now the foliage is feeding the bulbs and storing energy for next year. Mulch them.
2007-03-28 23:30:45 · answer #4 · answered by Enigma 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋