Spring Bulb Care After Bloom: Leaves, Deadheading and Feeding

The short answer

Spring bulb care after bloom is mostly about the leaves. Let foliage stay until it yellows and dies back, since the leaves feed the bulb for next year. Snip off spent flower heads so energy goes to the bulb, not seed. A light feeding as plants finish blooming can help, and you can divide crowded clumps once leaves fade.

Get these steps right and tulips, daffodils and crocus come back with good flowers year after year.

Why leave the leaves?

After flowering, bulb leaves continue making food through photosynthesis. That food moves down into the bulb and builds next year’s flower bud. Cut the leaves too soon and the bulb goes into summer underfed, which often means small flowers or none the next spring.

The University of Minnesota Extension guide to planting bulbs, tubers and rhizomes advises leaving foliage until it turns yellow or brown.

Don’t braid, knot or rubber band daffodil leaves, since that cuts the light they receive and slows food making.

Sources: University of Minnesota Extension, University of Illinois Extension, South Dakota State University Extension.

Should you deadhead bulbs?

Yes, for most large bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and hyacinths. Snap or cut off the faded flower and the swelling seed pod behind it, but leave the stem and leaves. Seed making spends energy the bulb could store.

Small bulbs that naturalize, such as crocus, scilla and grape hyacinth, can be left alone.

Should you feed bulbs after bloom?

A light feeding helps. The University of Illinois Extension page on bulbs notes that the most important time to feed hardy bulbs is right after they bloom, while the leaves are still green. A balanced or bulb fertilizer scratched lightly into the soil works well.

Water during dry spells while leaves are green.

How do you hide fading foliage?

Yellowing leaves are untidy, but there are ways around it. Plant bulbs among perennials such as hostas, daylilies or ferns, whose new leaves grow up and cover the fading ones. Annuals between bulbs help too.

Mulch makes beds neat and holds moisture. Our post on mulch for cannabis covers mulch types that suit flower beds too.

Plan for location too. Bulbs in warm, sunny spots bloom and fade first. Our post on garden microclimates for cannabis explains how site affects timing.

When should you divide bulbs?

Crowded clumps produce many leaves but few flowers. Dig and divide them after foliage dies back, when bulbs are dormant. The South Dakota State University Extension article on bulbs to plant in the fall covers planting depth and spacing for replanting.

Replant right away or store dry bulbs in a cool, airy place until fall. Mark where bulbs grow before leaves disappear so you don’t slice into them later.

Fall cleanup is another chance to tidy beds and plan. Our post on fall garden cleanup after cannabis harvest offers seasonal tips.

How to: step by step

1. Deadhead large bulbs right after bloom.
2. Feed lightly as flowers fade.
3. Water in dry spells while leaves are green.
4. Leave foliage until it yellows.
5. Remove leaves once they pull away easily.
6. Divide crowded clumps when dormant.

Troubleshooting

Leaves but no flowers. Crowding or early leaf removal. Divide and leave foliage longer.

Small flowers each year. Bulbs need feeding or more sun.

Bulbs rotted. Poor drainage. Replant in looser soil.

Leaves flop over. Normal as they fade. Leave them.

Lost track of bulbs. Mark spots before leaves vanish.

Good spring bulb care after bloom sets up next year’s display. Kind Seed Co shares more seasonal tips in outdoor growing.

Sources

• Planting bulbs, tubers and rhizomes, University of Minnesota Extension, Planting bulbs
• Bulbs, flowers, University of Illinois Extension, Bulbs
• Bulbs to plant in the fall, South Dakota State University Extension, Bulbs to plant in the fall