Question:I have a bed of daffodils in my yard that produces many leaves but no flowers. Are they too old? Or perhaps they should be dug and divided? LS, Illinois.
Answer: Daffodils are rather permanent bulbs. They divide slowly and eventually each division becomes large enough to bloom. These slow growing divisions, if left undisturbed, continue to grow but if there is not enough plant food to produce a heavy growth and flowers they still survive and produce leaves. So, as a general rule, sometime between late June and September a bed of daffodils that seems to have exhausted its blooming ability should be dug. The bulbs should be separated and reset either in enriched soil in the same bed or in a new place. An extremely dry fall and early winter may so restrict root development that the bulbs do not flower well. Usually a bed of daffodils is improved by dividing every three or four years. The deeper bulbs are set, up to six or eight inches, the longer the period of time required between replanting, for deep planting retards division. If manure is used in the bulb bed, place the manure well below the bulbs where it will not come in direct contact with the bulbs themselves.
