Gransnet forums

Gardening

Daffodils

(32 Posts)
Esmay Fri 10-Apr-26 08:50:45

If you can - don't forget to deadhead your daffodils so that they don't become blind .
I've done mine and had a go at the ones in our churchyard .

Whitewavemark2 Fri 10-Apr-26 08:57:51

And give them a feed of FBB to boost the bulbs.

Witzend Fri 10-Apr-26 09:03:51

Fish, blood and bone?

Esmay Sat 11-Apr-26 10:51:36

Yes, they do need a feed as well .
There's a huge clump in my front garden of long blind daffodils.
I'll try and lift them and replant them in another area.
The soil might be just too shallow .
At any rate ,they are overcrowded .

Allira Sat 11-Apr-26 10:57:45

I'll try to remember but it's hailing out there at the moment!
🥶

Astitchintime Sat 11-Apr-26 11:04:26

Thank you for the reminder……..but it is rather wet here today.

teabagwoman Sat 11-Apr-26 12:28:27

Another thing to add to the never ending to do list.

dragonfly46 Sat 11-Apr-26 12:30:32

I never do mine and they come back bigger every year. I also never cut the leaves back or tie them but let them rot.

Cabowich Sat 11-Apr-26 12:35:51

I've been told several times not to deadhead them or cut them back until the leaves have started to go brown.

Aldom Sat 11-Apr-26 12:50:05

Although I dead head my daffodils I often wonder why I do it. Wild and naturalised daffodils, as in planted by the county council, are never dead headed, yet grow in abundance year on year.

MaizieD Sat 11-Apr-26 13:17:47

I never deadhead mine, either.

They all survive, apart from some that I inherited from the previous owners of our house which have been crowded out by my plantings and have more or less disappeared. I don't mind because they were the big trumpet sort and I prefer much smaller ones. I grow them in various containers and they give me great pleasure.

Norah Sat 11-Apr-26 13:48:27

Done.

25Avalon Sat 11-Apr-26 14:35:05

If you are using fish, blood and bone make sure to wear gloves.
I do deadhead but I’ve noticed lots of daffodils have appeared this year in our mini orchard that I haven’t planted. I think when the garden was renovated they must have got buried and have finally triumphantly reappeared.

Allira Sat 11-Apr-26 14:49:45

Cabowich

I've been told several times not to deadhead them or cut them back until the leaves have started to go brown.

Yes, you are supposed to deadhead the flowers but leave the leaves to die back.

Although I didn't deadhead them last year, nor give them any feed and they have flowered just as well this year.

🤔

David49 Sat 11-Apr-26 18:04:35

It's really important not to cut them back until they die back naturally, the same applies to tulips and Hyacinths etc, thats what feeds the bulbs up for next year

Hopesprings52 Sat 11-Apr-26 18:11:14

Just a warning to anyone using blood and bone meal, it attracts foxes. They then dig up the plants.

Esmay Sat 11-Apr-26 18:34:15

Deadheading them prevents seeds developing . When seeds develop the plant weakens.
It's important not to cut the foliage back .
Some gardeners tie the leaves back and that's not a good idea either.

Allira Sat 11-Apr-26 18:57:25

Some gardeners tie the leaves back and that's not a good idea either.
I used to do that with raffia but then read that it's not a good idea so just leave them now, they look untidy but less work.

Gwyllt Sat 11-Apr-26 20:13:18

All good advice but I just leave mine they are all just in grassy semi woodland edge. However one patch is in the middle of some grass where I don’t want them it has been just cut for years as soon as it flowers. Persistent. Little whatnots they keep coming back and flowering despite the harsh treatment .

keepcalmandcavachon Sat 11-Apr-26 22:07:32

Can anyone think of a better use for a five pound note than a paper bag full of daffy bulbs to plant? Little bursts of sunshine popping out everywhere sunshinesunshinesunshine

Nannan2 Sun 12-Apr-26 13:50:13

One house i had previously had a lot pop up when spring came around,i never fed or deadheaded them(im not a gardening type) but they came up every year for 11 years i was there.😀

Nannan2 Sun 12-Apr-26 13:53:13

I was a bit concerned as i thought they are poisonous to cats? And in those days my cat was younger and went out all the time (he's now 19 nxt month) but they were at front so i think he just ignored them really.

Crasymum1561 Sun 12-Apr-26 15:48:12

My mum moved into a house with beautiful flower beds and in spring the daffs were plentiful and really healthy. She started doing "the old way" of caring for them. Within 6 yrs they were gone. I'm not saying she didn't have green fingers but she kept insisting this is what you do. Dead head them, tie them in knots. Then she started on the carnations..... how on earth she raised us kids is a miracle . Sorry mum

madeleine45 Sun 12-Apr-26 16:48:03

But you need to just literally take off the head and nothing more preferably before it starts to make seed. Then all the stalks and leaves put all the goodness into the bulbs so you dont get blind daffs next year. Yes they will do their own thing but this does improve your chances next year.

Shel1951 Sun 12-Apr-26 16:49:09

Thanks for the reminder