Summer Care of Flowering Bulbs

Dig up plant bulbs when foliage turns brown.

After digging, allow the bulbs to air dry in the shade for several days. Then remove the soil and store the bulbs in a cool, dry location until planting in the fall.

When spring gardeners begin wondering "where have all the flowers gone" from their bulb plants, then time is close at hand for putting them away for fall replanting.

If foliage is turning brown or dieback has begun and the plants have been bedded in the same location for two or more years; they need to be dug and stored for planting in October or early November. This applies to such varieties as narcissus, daffodils, jonquils and Easter lilies.

Don't dig too soon…

Avoid taking green plants from the ground since this could keep flowers from forming the next year. While the plant is still green, the new flower that will bloom the following year is being formed in the bulb.

After digging, allow the bulbs to air dry in the shade for several days. Then remove the soil and store the bulbs in a cool, dry location until planting in the fall.

While most spring flowering bulbs can be removed from beds in June, gladiolus are in bloom then and digging them will have to wait for four or five weeks. When foliage turns brown, the plants can be dug and larger bulbs separated from the smaller or marble-sized bulbs.

Small bulbs left attached to larger ones produce grass-like foliage and no flowers for three years. If you want to save the smaller ones, plant them in an inconspicuous place. In three years they will grow into larger bulbs .

For more information on summer care of flowering bulbs, contact your local county Extension office.