Daffodils are one of the year’s earliest bloomers and the sight of these bright yellow flowers in gardens and outdoor areas announces the arrival of spring and the beginning of new growth.
Daffodils are easy to grow and will last for many years with minimal nurturing, but caring for daffodil bulbs after they flower is essential. Below are our top tips for post bloom daffodil care.
- Remove the daffodil blooms and stems (not the leaves) as soon as they start fading, otherwise the bulbs will waste a lot of energy trying to create seeds.
- Removing the foliage too early will stunt the growth of the bulbs, resulting in smaller and fewer blooms for years to come.
- Daffodils should be watered adequately when the plant is blooming but keep the soil dry during the summer months when they are dormant.
- Apply a handful of bulb fertiliser once the shoots appear in early spring to provide extra nutrients. Be careful to only fertilise the soil around the daffodil, not the foliage.
- It is critical for daffodils to be planted in direct sunlight. They also prefer well drained soil, so avoid damp and swampy areas. If planted in shaded areas, daffodils will not produce full, healthy blooms and should be moved to a sunnier area once the foliage dies down and turns a yellow colour.
- This will not be a pretty sight in the garden, so consider ways to camouflage the leaves, for example by planting perennial flowers nearby.
- Every 3 years, once the growing season is over, the daffodil plants should be transplanted by carefully digging up the bulbs, gently separating them and replanting them in a sunny area.
With minimal care, you can enjoy these beautiful flowers for years to come.
