When to Fertilize Daffodils and Spring Bulbs plus 3 Reasons to Take Pictures

[@helen1962]

Nothing is more beautiful than spring flowers, daffodils, tulips, hyacinths.

[@GardenSanity]

I completely agree Helen! 🌼🌷Rabbits prevent me from growing some other bulbs like tulips, and they eat all my muscari up…but I still have summer Snowflakes to look forward too (Leucojum) and some Spring-blooming alliums. What bulbs do you have?

[@cindysayavong8513]

Thank you for sharing Laura. I’m new to gardening. My first year planned spring bulbs. I am in Canada we still have snow. It will be awhile yet for them to come. Can’t wait!

[@GardenSanity]

You’re welcome Cindy! So excited for you because the first year is so much fun! Even though my crocus bulbs were dug up by critters - not a successful display - the daffodils were so pretty that first year and filled me with joy! I hope you have the same experience! 🌼💛

[@LesssIsMore]

Thanks for all the great information

[@GardenSanity]

You’re welcome Les! 🌼

[@truthofthematter9409]

Ty for reminding me! I've fertilized much of my seperate gardens with shrubs but have always forgotten my bulbs!!!! So pretty btw

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks so much! 💛 Yes, It isn’t something I did the first few years, mainly because I thought about it too late. But it helps. It’s relaxing to do while temperatures are cool and there’s no bugs flying around! 🙃🙂

[@natektaylor]

Thanks for being informative yet concise!

[@GardenSanity]

You're welcome Nate! I like my info that way too, so I try to offer the same!

[@OliveCityOasis]

Thanks for this video, Laura! It made me realize this is an area I've totally been ignoring. I only stumbled into bulb growing recently and didn't even think about the need to fertilize them. I build up the soil in my veggie gardens and in my fruit orchard all the time with woodchips, rotting leaves, aged manure, chop'n'drop plants, and homegrown compost, but I have never fertilized my bulbs - or any of my flowers really. 😌Most seem to do great anyway (probably the ever-present woodchips and leaf mulch), but some definitely need a little something! Off to fertilize all my daffodils, irises, and other bulbs now! 😎

[@GardenSanity]

Yes, Daffodils love leaf mulch, because that's what they get in the wild or at the edge of woods. I bet if you popped some bulbs into your veggie gardens or fruit orchard, they'd grow like mad! 😀 Your soil there sounds perfect for just about anything!

[@richbishop7896]

I have never fertilized my daffodils or other spring bulbs. As long as you let the foliage die back you shouldn't have a problem. Bonny zone 5b.

[@GardenSanity]

You're fortunate you haven't had to fertilize them, Bonny! And you're right, many gardeners simply allow the foliage to die back naturally and that's enough to help the daffodils and other bulbs for the following year. 👍 🌼

[@bobbytudor3788]

Is the fertilizer 3-3-5?

[@lisaf7688]

Yes! Save yourself the headache and take pics while they’re in bloom!

[@GardenSanity]

Hooray for picture takers, Lisa! 🌼💛 I do this with all my garden beds year-round. Even the parts that aren’t looking so great! 📷

[@WarringHostMakinSatanToast]

Thank you!!!

[@GardenSanity]

Most welcome! 🌼

[@laurafrazaos]

would you share what are the perennials you are associating to them, to cover once they are gone?

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Laura, If you already have daffodils in the ground, it's best to start with a small perennial that won't require much digging so that the bulbs underground aren't disturbed. Choose perennials that have nice Spring and Summer growth and flowers. It may look a bit "crowded" for awhile, with both the green daffodil stems and the perennials side by side, but once those daffodil stems are cut back, you won't have many "holes" of open space in the garden. I have Totally Tangerine Geum, Veronica, Lobelia, False Asters. And this year added Lychnis Petite Jenny and Petit Henri too. (You can see them in my recent video called "Early May Garden Tour" here on my KZbin channel.) Just about any upright perennial will work. Think about Coneflowers, Yarrow, Alliums and so on. I hope this helps! 🙂

[@awizenwoman]

Bulbtone is not available in the UK. A standard 7-7-7 feeder here is too high in Nitrogen for Daffs.

[@GardenSanity]

I should have realized that - and so thanks for pointing this out. 🙂 Visit your local garden nursery and ask them for a “slow release organic bulb fertilizer” and see what they offer. Hopefully you will find suitable suggestions. I did try and poke around on the internet for you, but I think I’d need to visit some UK nurseries in person to have better luck! I hope this helps! 🌼

[@willaerley7140]

Honestly, I’ve never fertilized my daffodils. The previous owner planted them and they always bloom nicely. They’re on the woods edge, covered by decomposing leaves all winter, so maybe that’s enough.

[@GardenSanity]

Lucky you, Will - all those decomposing leaves are perfect for daffodils, especially ones by the woods! The soil is no doubt really great in that area. One less task you need to do! 😀

[@littleeddie133]

why do mine only last a few weeks

[@berkcansevgi2714]

are they in a very sunny location? that might be it. Mine bloom in Feb because my front garden is super sunny even in winter

[@Sami-Nasr]

Bulb-tone is an expensive way to fertilize anything 3-5-3, buy a cheaper fertilizer say 6-10-6 in bulk, add 1:1 used compost or any filler you get a much cheaper of the same, you can get some bonemeal or lime for calcium

[@allanreginald]

Would bone meal work just as good? 🤔

[@GardenSanity]

Hi Allan, Glad you found this video - I just replied to your comment on the “Planting Daffodils” video. I don’t recommend using Bone Meal. If you can’t find a good bulb fertilizer, using Plant-tone is fine. 👍🌼🙂

[@Ladyloubug9]

OK so I may have already fertilized my bulbs in my perennials with milorganite. Do you think you will get less blooms and more greenery with this because of the nitrogen content? And if I did have i ruined my daffodils for good? How long does it take after they’ve taking up a high amount of nitrogen before the bulb can return to normal? Should I move them?

[@GardenSanity]

@@Ladyloubug9 Hi Polly, the good news about Milorganite is that it slowly releases into the soil when conditions are right - there’s details on their website you can read. So I don’t think you need to worry that you’ve ruined your daffodils. There’s no reason to move your daffodils either. The better fertilizer for your bulbs is to use something like Bulb-tone by Espoma or another bulb fertilizer. And for your perennials, use either Plant-tone or Flower-tone - or another type of organic slow-release fertilizer. Your perennials may be more affected by the nitrogen - it’s hard to say, but if you see less flowers and more greenery, then at least you know the reason. But again, since this is slowly broken up in the soil over time, hopefully your perennials will be ok. As for your daffodils, add some fertilizer to where they are located in the Fall. That isn’t the usual season I suggest fertilizing your daffodils, but you don’t want to overdo it either by adding even more nutrients now. As long as you leave the stems and leaves in place until they turn brown, you’ll be doing them a huge favor, as they get many of their nutrients for next year’s flowers right now from the sun as the leaves slowly go from green to brown. I hope this helps! 🌼🙂

[@Sami-Nasr]

It will, Daffodils aren't fussy, I tried everything on them, just don't burn them and they will be fine Most of the stuff you see in those videos are paid ads