10 DAFFODIL BULBS

Nothing announces the arrival of spring like daffodils. Their cheerful, trumpet-shaped flowers splash gardens and landscapes with golden yellows and other brilliantly colored hues. These spring blooms are also a favorite in cut flower arrangements.

While their bloom times can vary, daffodils, also called narcissus, generally burst into bloom after crocuses and before tulips. They are some of the easiest of the spring-blooming bulbs to grow. Suitable for zones 3-8, daffodils can be grown throughout much of the United States. 

It?s easy to fit daffodils into your gardening style. Depending on the cultivar, they grow 14-24 inches tall, and look right at home in formal gardens, naturalized areas, mixed perennial beds and other locations. For the best effect, we recommend planting daffodils in groups of five or more. Some gardeners, though, plant hundreds of daffodil bulbs to create a burst of color in the springtime.

 Because daffodils are deer resistant and rodent resistant, they?re a favorite of gardeners who live in areas that have frequent deer and other wildlife visitors.

How to Plant Daffodil Bulbs

Because daffodil bulbs need well-drained soil, the first step is to make sure your soil is well-drained. Mixing aged manure or compost into the soil can improve the drainage.

Next, either prepare a bed for planting daffodil bulbs or dig individual holes for the bulbs. If digging individual holes, people often use a bulb planter or auger.

Make sure the planting hole is deep enough. The general rule of thumb is to plant the daffodil bulb about three times the diameter of the bulb. That means that large daffodil bulbs should be planted about 6 inches deep. Bulbs don?t like to be crowded, so place the daffodil bulbs about 4 inches apart. If planting in a container, the bulbs can be closer together, but they should not be touching.

At planting time, you can feed the daffodil bulbs with fertilizer. Avoid using a strong commercial fertilizer or fresh manure at planting time.
Set the bulb so that the pointy end is up. Cover with dirt. After planting, water the bulbs well and cover with a light mulch