My daffodils are pathetic

Mine have been quite good this year jane although they have been a bit battered with the wind. I tend to fold mine back with an elastic band so they look tidy and I leave them like that until they literally come away in your hand without tugging at them.

I have been digging in soil improvers for a couple of years, and it's worked. I am sorry that my hens are no longer living in the garden, as the manure they created has been a boon. The daffies this year look a bit straggly, no doubt due to heavy rain and harsh winds recently, but still a glory to welcome the spring.

That's a pity janeain. Try giving them a good dollop of fertilizer high in phosphorus before the bulbs become dormant - and of course leave the leaves to thoroughly wither before 'tidying up'.

You could also dig up and re-plant - if you've the inclination and time

Sorry to hear about your daffs Janeain. I have a wonderful show this year from bulbs that are ages old, can't really claim any credit though. I totally ignore them other than to dead head once the flowers are completely dead - if I remember.

Well - that is strange. There are wonderful shows round here, and I had thought it was a good year for them - something to do with the weather.

They have either been too dry, or need a good feed, or are getting too old. I find that any I have that are too close to a fence or hedge are the first to go, so know that they are too dry. You can try digging them up and splitting them and planting them elsewhere, that can produce good results. Replace them with fresh bulbs for next year. I do move mine around quite a lot and the ones in tubs also only last a few years, no matter how much feed and water they get.

Mine have been very good this year, until the big fat pigeons came and sat on them and flattened some.

I always snap off the dead flower heads and leave the foliage on until it has more or less died down (sometimes tie it up to make it look tidy, sometimes not) and some years sprinkle some Growmore or a similar fertiliser (not recommending any particular brand!) over them.

Thanks for your comments everyone.
I don't think it's lack of water as my soil is heavy clay and rarely dries out.
I'll go with the Growmore and put some compost over them too.