Plant daffodil bulbs in a spot that drains well, with the pointed ends facing up. Choose early-, mid- and late-blooming varieties if you want flowers to appear over more of the spring. They return from bulbs year after year, so a little thought about where they will grow is worth the effort.
Find a place where the bulbs will not sit in water
Those first yellow flowers pushing through the soil are a welcome sign of spring. A sweep of daffodils can brighten a lawn edge, a garden bed or a patch near the woods. The bulbs are fairly tough once established, but waterlogged ground is a poor place for them. If a spot stays wet, look for one that drains better rather than hoping the bulbs will manage.
Set each bulb in the soil with its pointed end up. A rule of thumb is to plant it at about twice the bulb’s height; check the planting guidance for the bulbs you buy as well. Bone meal is sometimes recommended, but it is not a necessary step for every garden. The soil and the site’s drainage matter more than adding an amendment by habit. For a closer look at what is under your planting beds, see our soil basics guide.
Choose different bloom times
Daffodils come in more than the familiar bright yellow. White flowers and varieties with orange, coral, salmon or pink tones give you other choices. Look at the bloom time on the bulb label while you choose: a mix of early, middle and late varieties can extend the display, though the actual timing will vary with the weather and the variety. Since they flower early, you do not have to match every bulb to the colors of your summer planting.
Think in groups when you lay the bulbs out. A few near a path are easy to notice; a larger planting can make an impression from farther away. Daffodils may multiply and persist for many years in a suitable spot, which is why you sometimes see them marking where an older garden once stood. That is a possibility, rather than a promise that every bulb will last indefinitely.
Make room for the leaves after flowering
Once the flowers are finished, let the foliage remain until it yellows and dies back. The leaves help the bulbs prepare for another year, even if they look untidy for a while. Planting among later-growing annuals or perennials can make that stage less noticeable. Our article on starting a perennial bed can help you think about the plants that will share the space.
If you are planning a wider fall bulb planting, our tulip planting article offers another spring-flower idea. Nature’s Friends Landscaping can also help you choose daffodil varieties and work out where to put them.
