Daffodil Garden

Growing daffodils is easy once you learn how  to plant and care for them properly. Many beginners are confused about what to do to get a bed of flower bulbs started. These daffodil growing tips will help you get your narcissus bulbs off to a great start even if you've never planted them before.

The first step to starting a flower bed is to make sure it gets enough sunlight.  Daffodils will grow in full sun to partial shade. In hotter climates they will need to be protected from hot afternoon sun. In areas with colder springs,they need at least a half day of sun. These bulbs do well when they are planted in a woodland setting. Bulbs planted underneath deciduous trees will be going into dormancy by the time the trees leaf out. Avoid shallow rooted trees for planting flower beds. Also, never plant under walnut trees. They give off chemicals from their roots that will kill anything that is planted near them.

Daffodils prefer a sandy loam type of soil with a slightly acid PH level. If your soil is heavy clay you'll need to loosen it by spading it at least a foot deep. Amending  clay soil with compost and coarse sand or vermiculite will help prepare it for growing your bulbs. Raising the beds 6-8 inches is a good idea for very heavy soils. This will ensure proper drainage. Daffodils like rainy spring weather but they won't tolerate standing water.

Planting at the right depth can be the most important factor for success with flowering bulbs. Large bulbs should be planted at least six inches deep.  Smaller bulbs can be planted four inches deep. There are several ways to handle a large planting of daffodils. One way of course, is to dig a hole for each bulb. A faster way is to dig a larger whole or a wide trench and plant many bulbs at one time. After all the bulbs are in place you can fill in the entire area with soil. Make sure you give your bulbs plenty of space to grow and multiply. Don't let the bulbs touch. Water the bed well after planting to get rid of any air pockets in the soil.

If you've added organic matter to your soil you probably don't need to fertilize  flower bulbs at planting time. They've already stored all the energy they need for next year's blooms. In the second year you can add a low nitrogen bulb food after the leaves appear in early spring. Daffodils are heavy feeders of potassium and trace minerals.

After a few years you'll probably need to dig and divide your bulbs if they become crowded. You can start a new flower bed with your extra bulbs or give them away to friends.

After all the work is done the only thing left to do is sit back and wait for spring . Enjoy your new garden. Even if you've never planted a bulb before if you follow these tips you'll be growing daffodils like a pro .