Taking Care of Daffodils
- 1). Select a suitable location in your garden or home landscape to plant your daffodil bulbs. Choose a location that receives a minimum of four hours of direct sunlight each day to ensure that your plant has access to the sunlight it needs to bloom prolifically. Look for a planting location that also provides deep, fertile and well-draining soil.
- 2). Remove any unwanted vegetation, such as grass or weeds, from your planting location to prevent it from leeching moisture and nutrients from your daffodils. Dig 8 to 10 inches into the soil to remove the root systems of unwanted plants. Remove any obstructions that may make it difficult to work the soil, including rocks, sticks or clumps of dirt that can't be broken apart.
- 3). Work a 3-inch layer of equal parts aged manure, peat moss and perlite into the top 10 to 12 inches of soil at your planting location. Work the organic amendments into the soil until evenly distributed to enrich and aerate it before planting your daffodil bulbs.
- 4). Plant your daffodil bulbs in the prepared planting location, spacing small bulbs at least 3 inches apart and large bulbs 5 to 7 inches apart. Plant the bulbs, pointed-ends-up, under 3 inches of amended soil. Tamp down the surface of the soil with your hands to secure your bulbs in the ground.
- 5). Water your daffodil bulbs after planting to evenly moisten the soil. Continue to water your daffodils periodically throughout the fall and winter months to prevent the soil from drying out completely. Increase the frequency of watering in the spring, when your daffodils emerge. Water your daffodils as often as necessary to keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy or waterlogged.
- 6). Fertilize your daffodils every other week during the growing season using a half-strength solution of a balanced, water soluble fertilize that is specially formulated for use with flowering plants. Follow the application instructions on the fertilizer package to ensure that your daffodils are receiving the nutrients they need for healthy, vigorous growth.
- 7). Remove faded daffodil blossoms from your plant as needed to maintain an attractive appearance. Deadheading your daffodils also allows them to focus their energy on producing additional gorgeous blooms. Cut the spent blossoms from your daffodil plant with a pair of sharpened and sterilized pruning shears, or pinch them off between your fingers.
Source...