Digging up and replanting daffodile, iris and tulip bulbs

Discussion in 'NEW Gardeners !' started by MissAgapanthus, Apr 22, 2015.

  1. MissAgapanthus

    MissAgapanthus Gardener

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    My dear Gardening Friends,

    Again this apprentice gardener requires your help.
    Earlier this year I impulse bought some iris, tulip and daffodils plants and swiftly planted them in my southwest facing raised bed. The heavy untouched clay soil had been dug through and supplemented with compost last year before planting some tropical plants in it. We then removed the plants that had perished over winter :(
    My plan for this bed is a Monty Don style Jewel Garden in miniature format.
    I am also hoping to reposition the irises, daffodiles and tulips and form little clusters of them, making more room for the array of plants I have planned to plant.
    Whilst the daffodiles and irises have finished flowering. I have removed their flowers but left the leaves. The tulips haven't done very well and to my great disappointment only one is in bloom.
    I have been respectfully advised by Woo to dig up two of the roses that I planted in there that haven't flowered and replant them at a deeper level. Leaving just one of the roses where she is. I am planning to do this this weekend as well as planting my dhalias which are currently hardening off.
    My question to you is can I dig up the irises, daffodiles and tulips this weekend and replant them. Or will this disturb them in gathering the resources for next year's bloom.
    Any other advice, especially what I can do to help my tulip bulbs along next year would be micy appreciated.
     
  2. Sheal

    Sheal Total Gardener

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    You should leave all the bulbs to die back naturally and gather nutrients in the process, this could take some weeks though.

    Sorry Miss Agapanthus, I can't help you with the tulips I've never grown them.
     
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    • MissAgapanthus

      MissAgapanthus Gardener

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      Thank you Sneak for your response.
      Yrs, that's what I thought the answer would be although I hope it wasn't. I'll leave them in peace for now then.
      Maybe a tulip expert will pop by later.
       
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      • Cinnamon

        Cinnamon Super Gardener

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        Although I agree with Sheal that it's better to wait, it's certainly possible to transplant daffodils 'in the green' while you can see/remember what you've got where. I watched the owner of this place, http://www.doddingtonhall.com/doddington-gardens.php
        whose daffodils were featured on Gardeners World a couple of years ago, go around digging up daffodils in spring and heeling them into new sites.

        Be careful not to have your clusters too closely planted, as they will need room to expand.
         
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        • CharlieBot

          CharlieBot Super Gardener

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          I'm feeding my tulips with a seaweed feed in the hope they will perform well next year too. I got it from amazon. Species tulips are supposed to be more long lasting and prolific than the taller varieties.
           
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          • MissAgapanthus

            MissAgapanthus Gardener

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            Thank you for your advice. It's much appreciated.
            I'll be careful not to plant them to close to each other.
            When I say cluster I just mean grouping them a bit more. At the moment I have them dotted about. One daffodil, one iris, one tulip, one daffodil...sort of thing. I've just realised it looks more natural to have a couple of each type a bit closer to each other.
             
          • NigelJ

            NigelJ Total Gardener

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            I would leave the daffodils until the leaves start to go yellow and then move them. The tulips probably discard them and get new bulbs in the autumn. As CharlieBot said species tulips last longer in the garden. Irises I'm not sure but probably move at the same time as the daffodils.
             
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            • MissAgapanthus

              MissAgapanthus Gardener

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              Ok. That's two for leaving them for now. So that's what I will do.
              I could Gove the seaweed a try. And I'll look for species bulbs next year.
               
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