Should I Lift Bulbs Every Year or Leave Them in the Ground?
Should you lift your bulbs every year or can you leave them in?
In general, bulbs can be left in the ground for several years before flowering is affected. You can lift bulbs out and dry them over the dormant season, but there is no real advantage in doing this unless you want to move them or check their condition.
When bulbs can stay in the ground
If you would like your bulbs to naturalise and spread on their own, leave them in the ground and do not disturb them.
Some bubls do better with lifting every few years though. It is essential to lift varieties such as irises and lachenalias every two to three years, otherwise their flowering will reduce.
Bulbs in pots and smaller spaces
If your bulbs are growing in containers or smaller garden areas, it is best to lift, check and replant them every three to four years.
- Gently dig them up, check their condition and discard any that are diseased or rotten.
- Divide them if need be as some may have multiplied.
- Plant them out again in the ground or back into containers with fresh Daltons Premium Bulb Mix.
When green foliage starts to appear through the soil, feed bulbs by applying a side dressing of Daltons Premium Bulb Fertiliser to promote healthy, vigorous blooms. Once they have finished flowering, feed bulbs again to support them in bulking up their stores for next season.
After flowering
Once flowering has finished, let the foliage yellow and die down naturally. Cutting it off too early is one of the main reasons bulbs flower less well the following season, as the leaves are still feeding the bulb and helping it store energy for next year.
