A vision splendid
Spring-flowering bulbs and daffodils in particular are standouts in the garden at the moment. They are part of early spring in Tasmania. Swathes of these nodding golden flowers are spread across gardens, parks and even along footpaths planted under street trees to add seasonal colour to the landscape.
If you have daffodils and they are happy with their spot in the garden they will multiply and grow for many years to come. Left undisturbed, one bulb soon forms a clump. Established clumps can be dug up, divided and spread to other areas of the garden or given away. During their summer dormancy is the best time to lift and divide daffodil and other springflowering bulbs.
One of my neighbours is doing some guerrilla gardening with excess daffodil bulbs from local gardens, planting them around some old graves in a local park. Even after only a year or two, the yellow flowers are popping up and adding beauty to the area.
As well as daffodils, there are many other bulbs that can be left in the soil to multiply and regrow each year. The close relatives of the daffodil, narcissus and jonquils, also form large clumps.
As well, bluebells, freesias and ixias are particularly good at surviving and multiplying from year to year. Indeed, some can become weedy if allowed to escape into the environment beyond the garden.
KEEP THEM GROWING
Bulbs will grow and flower from year to year without much care but to keep the clump thriving and producing lots of flowers, give daffodils and other bulbs a bit of TLC over the months ahead.
After flowering bulbs store energy for next year’s growth so it is important to provide extra nourishment now by spreading well-rotted manure or applying a bulb fertiliser or a liquid feed around the clumps.
Picking flowers or deadheading the bulbs as flowers finish also helps bulbs to prosper as energy isn’t wasted on seed formation at the expense of feeding up the bulb. Allow the bulb’s leaves to die down naturally before clearing them away in late spring or early summer. This gives the bulb as much time as possible to store energy. If they are growing in grass, leave the area unmown.
This last stage of the daffodil’s life cycle can be a trial, particularly for tidy gardeners. As the leaves die down they tend to flop over, go brown and generally look untidy. There are several ways to
WHERE TO SEE DAFFODILS There are many spring flower shows on around Tassie.
Wynyard Garden Club’s Daffodil and Flower Show 2022 is coming up next Saturday (September 17) at the Uniting Church Hall, Dodgin St, Wynyard. The show is open from 10.30am-4pm (admission $3 – children under 16 are free).
If you would like to enter an exhibit, bring entries to the hall between 6pm7.30pm on Friday (September 16) or Saturday from 8am-8.45am.