Here comes the sun

THE WELCOME ARRIVAL OF BRILLIANT YELLOW DAFFODILS IS A SURE SIGN SPRING IS ON ITS WAY

WORDSWORTH had a point, there’s nothing half so delightful on a March day as daffodils. A clump of daffs anchors a handful of sunshine, cheers the dreariest of days and brightens the humblest of plots.

But why do daffodils sometimes peter out after a year or two? There are several possible reasons for this.

First, it may be you planted them too shallowly.

This is especially likely if you planted out a pot after flowering, since those that are sold in bud growing in a pot are planted on the surface.

Outdoors, if they are to come up year after year, daffodil and narcissus bulbs need to be buried three or four times their depth – that’s 3in or 4in deep for miniatures such as ‘Tete a Tete’ and 6in below ground for the larger daffs such as ‘Carlton’ and ‘King Alfred.’

That’s factor number one. Factor number two is a dry spring, which can adversely affect flowering in the subsequent year.

To make up for this potential lack of sustenance, give your daffodils a feed when they are in flower, and water that in if no rain showers are forthcoming.

Blood, bone and fishmeal, generously scattered around each clump, will be much appreciated and beneficial.

Take off faded flowers, too – not only to improve the appearance of the plants but to prevent any extra energy being diverted into seed production.

Heavy shade is another common cause of failure, along with fierce competition from tree roots. And where daffodils are naturalised in grass or lawns, adding a few extra bulbs each year is a good habit to get into so that the food extracted from the earth by the grass does not diminish their numbers.

If you are feeling short of flowers now, you can nip out and buy those budded pots from nurseries and garden centres.

Granted, you’ll have to pay a little more for them since the grower has potted them up, fed and watered them, but they are still great value for money.

For very little effort, daffs are a must, and for me ‘Tete a Tete’ is the best of the lot.

Heavy shade is a cause of failure, as is competition from nearby tree roots

To any space Daffodils bring a little sunshine of their own

Daffodils come in a rich variety of styles and colours