Discard or Keep Bulbs

Popular spring bulbs wind down now, after heralding the season with cheerful flowers. Treat some, like tulips and hyacinths, as annuals; pull them up and discard when bloom ends. Many others like daffodils, freesias and baboon flowers (Babiana) will return next year.

To keep them vigorous and encourage them to naturalize or multiply, cut off spent flower stalks; but leave the foliage to continue providing nutrients to re-plenish the bulbs. A light feeding helps this process. Remove leaves only when they turn yellow or brown. If they become unsightly, they can be braided or tied together and tucked out of sight.

Garden Planner: By Mary James