The secateurs are ready to hand, the will to step into action is palpable - but not too hasty! If you make a mistake now, you could lose your daffodils and not see them again next year.
Faded daffodils should be trimmed; but only cut off the flowers, not the leaves!
Cutting off flower stalks saves energy
After the flowering period is over, daffodils strive to form seeds. Since this costs a lot of energy, it is advisable to spare them this strenuous procedure. To do this, the withered flower stalks are cut off at the base.
Better remove leaves later
You should not proceed too radically when cutting:
- do not remove the leaves immediately
- for reasons of beauty, cut off the leaves after they have turned yellow
- before that, onions draw nutrients from the leaves
- Leaves keep pests away from other garden plants
- Do not fertilize after the leaves have dried up or been cut off
tips and tricks
A light application of fertilizer after cutting the flower stalks increases the nutrient depots of the bulb.