Any gardeners out there that can help me with a simple question?

[MrsJobba1]

Hi

I do not have green fingers although I do try. Well last year I planted loads of daffodils - it took me ages and I was thrilled to bits when they grew and flowered - well the question is what do I do next?

A friend has told me to take the dead heads off but do I just cut them - can I also cut off some of the leaves? I would really like them to come back next year I planted some in tubs and some in the garden. Im wondering if I cut back the ones in the tubs can I put something else in?

Any help would be really appreciated
Thanks

 

[Dimplenose]

I'm not an expert but take off the heads (so they don't use their energy creating seeds) but don't cut the leaves as they need them to get the energy to build up their bulb for next year. (Once the leaves go brown then you can cut them back).

I always leave bulbs in tubs and plant over them once the leaves have died back but I think serious gardeners take them out and plant them in a corner of the garden (I don't have any spare space in my tiny plot.)

 

[Goofyish]

Cut the heads of before they start to produce seed but leave the leaves to allow all the energy to go into the bulbs for next year

 

[~Piglet~]

leave the leaves to allow all the energy to go into the bulbs for next year

Yes, leave the leaves as long as you can, my Nan used to bend the stems over and tie them up neatly I cut mine too soon last year and this year we had plenty of green leaves and about three daffs all along the garden

 

[DISWolves]

Cut off the flower heads as they fade, the give the leaves another 6 weeks to put some energy back into the bulb, then cut these off at soil level, if you plan to leave these in situ.