After Bulbs Bloom


Many popular spring bulbs finish blooming this month. Some, like tulips and hyacinths, are annuals in our climate and can be yanked from the ground when the flowers fade. Others, like daffodils and baboon flowers (Babiana), will return next year. To keep them vigorous and encourage them to naturalize or multiply, cut off spent flower stalks but leave the foliage to continue to provide nutrients to replenish the bulbs. A light feeding helps this process. Remove leaves only after they turn yellow or brown. If they become unsightly, they can be tucked out of sight.