Spring Bulbs Question?

After our spring bulbs bloom I understand that you shouldn't cut the stems off. You can cut the dead flower bloom part off. But it is still taking in energy for next season. With that being said, when is it a safe time to take your bulbs out (tulips, daffodills, %26amp; bluebells) to see if they have separated to give you more flowers for next year?



This is not something that you're supposed to do every year as I understand it. There is a misnomer that you can just leave your bulbs in the ground and they'll do just fine, however if you do dig them up after it's safe (late summer?) then you can double the amount of bulbs to plant for the fall.



Can anyone add anything to that? And when can you dig up the bulbs (time of year) to see if they've given you baby bulbs/multiplied?

Spring Bulbs Question?
Really, the only reason we dig up bulbs is to divide the clump, down here in the South. (Zone 8b) Special protection, such as digging and bringing the fleshy storage structure into a warmer area for storage through the winter months is required in colder climates. This is done before the first frost, after the foliage has completely died back and yellowed.

Dig the bulbs using a digging tool of your choice, and that is comfortable with your style. I use the garden flat faced digging fork, that will get under the bulbs and lift them out of the ground without bruising them. Be careful to allow a little space between where the foliage is and the bulb so that you will not accidentally split the bulbs with the tool.



I guess the key is that you want the bulb to take in all the sunshine it can, which is done through the leaves, during the growing season. That's what makes the bulb bigger, or in the case of most, helps it to propagate "babies". Don't dig 'em till the leaves are brown and withered up.
Reply:What are spring bulbs?
Reply:anytime after they are done flowering!

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