Spring is such a beautiful time with blooms everywhere. Some of the first blooms come from our bulbs resting beneath the surface. We see them for such a short time it’s almost excruciating to see them go, partially because they disappear most of the year and partially because they don’t disappear quickly enough. They are so untidy for such a clean crisp beginning in the garden. Once the blooms have finished, tulips and especially daffodils hang around. You could say they overstay their welcome, and refuse to leaf.
There’s a reason they are such rude yard-guests. Such beauties need to store up energy for the next years blooms, but can’t survive the heat of summer so they die back relatively quickly. For those 2-3 months of life above ground they are either spending energy to bloom beautifully or storing energy for next year. This happens through photosynthesis, and for any of us who took high school biology you may remember this happens where a plant is green. All plants take light and transform it into energy they can store within their roots for further growth and blooming. That month or 2 the leaves are just laying around, they are actually busy photosynthesizing. If we cut them off, braid them or minimize the surface area exposed to sunlight we reduce the photosynthesizing able to take place, which in turn can compromise the next years bloom.
So now you’re frustrated because not only will the guests not leaf, but you can’t kick them out either. Stay calm, there are solutions. What can and should we do? Mix a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10 on bag) into the soil around the bulbs in early spring and/or fall to give a little boost. Remove blooms that are spent by cutting their stem just above the leaf height to redirect energy to the roots sooner. Leave small bloomers to seed and spread (crocus, muscari, etc..) Plant summer perennials in among the bulbs to help disguise the leaves of the bulbs as they fade away. This should help with the untidy nature of these lovely spring bloomers.
Then, go the extra mile. Show your garden guests extra love with a few housekeeping tips before and after blooming. Add a small amount of blood meal to the emerging leaves of tulips to dissuade rabbits and possibly squirrels from the fresh salad buffet. Dig out single leaf bulbs that are on their last leaf of life. Remove spent leaves as they drop to help keep disease from having a place to fester. If your bulb area gets moderate shade while they are storing up energy for next year, try foregoing the spring fertilizing and add a slightly higher potassium mix to the bulbs after blooming to help them build up their storage. In the end, you will be glad you let them stay!
