From The Ground Up: Tips for caring for spring-flowering bulbs

Q: When can I remove the flowers and leaves on bulbs that have faded?

A: You can remove the flower heads as soon as the flowers fade. Removing the flowers keeps flowers producing next year. But don't remove the foliage until it has died and turned brown; cutting off the foliage too soon stops bulb growth and it may cut flower numbers next year. Some gardeners are bothered by the untidy foliage and want to tie it back with rubber bands or braid it. But tying or braiding the foliage reduces the leaf area exposed to sunlight. As a result, the leaves manufacture smaller amounts of food. Plus, tying or braiding the foliage is a time-consuming chore.

Q: When should bulbs be fertilized?

A: Most spring-flowering bulbs don't need to be fertilized, unless your soil is poor. If you want to give bulbs a boost, you can do that when panting in the fall by adding some bone meal to the bottom of the hole before the bulb is placed in the hole. You can also fertilize bulbs after they bloom. Use a 5-10-5 or 6-10-4 fertilizer to bulb beds. Don't leave fertilizer on leaves to keep them from burning. Control weeds around bulbs to keep them from competing with the bulbs; hand weeding is best.

Q: When can I move bulbs?

A: Spring-flowering bulbs can be dug up and replanted as soon as the foliage dies back and turns brown, in late spring/early summer. You can also dig up the bulbs and replant them in the fall, when you would normally plant your bulbs. If you would like to move daffodil bulbs in fall, mark the site when the foliage is present so the bulbs can be located in October. Once you dig up your bulbs, dry them for 2 to 3 weeks. Then place the bulbs in mesh bags and store in a cool (50 to 65 F), dry place, like a basement, until fall planting. Inspect the bulbs several times during the summer and discard any which show signs of decay.

Q: When can I plant summer-blooming non-hardy bulbs?

A: Summer bulbs (gladiolus, for example) can be planted in the spring when danger of frost has passed. Water the bulbs when you plant them and mulch them to discourage critters from digging them up. Read the label information to see if the bulb can stay in the ground through our Iowa winters.

Jean Murray is Linn County Master Gardener. Call the Linn County Master Gardener Hortline at (319) 447-0647. Summer hours are from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Friday 9 a.m. to noon.