From my perspective as a daffodil clump, the first sign of trouble is a feeling of intense congestion. My bulbs, which started as a few, have multiplied over the seasons. We are now packed so tightly underground that our individual papery tunics are pressed against one another, competing for space. This translates above ground for you as a noticeable decline in our floral display. You might see an abundance of green leaves but very few or no flowers. The blooms we do manage to produce might be smaller and weaker. This is because our energy, which should be focused on flower production, is instead being diverted into a desperate struggle for nutrients, water, and simply enough room to breathe. The center of the clump may even begin to die out, leaving a hollow ring of growth.
Your timing is critical for our successful transition. The absolute best moment to undertake this operation is after our foliage has yellowed and begun to die back, but while we still remember the location of our previous growing season. This typically occurs in late spring to early summer. This period is our natural dormant phase. You must resist the urge to cut back our green leaves prematurely; those fading leaves are our solar panels, diligently absorbing sunlight and converting it into vital energy that is stored in our bulbs for next year's growth. Disturbing us while we are in active growth or in full bloom would be a catastrophic shock to our systems, severely depleting our reserves and potentially killing us.
Please be gentle. Use a garden fork rather than a spade, inserting it into the soil well away from the main clump to avoid spearing any of my bulbs. Carefully lift the entire mass out of the ground. You will now see the tangled web of our root systems and the crowded bulbs. Gently tease the clump apart with your hands, separating us into individual bulbs or smaller, more manageable clusters. You may find some bulbs, called offsets, still attached to the mother bulb; these can be gently snapped off. Discard any bulbs that feel soft, mushy, or show signs of disease or pest damage. They are a liability to the health of the entire group.
Before you replant us, please prepare our new beds. We thrive in well-draining soil that receives ample sunlight. Dig holes to a depth approximately three times our height; this provides the necessary insulation and support. Place us in the holes with our pointed tips facing upwards. Space us out generously, allowing at least 3 to 6 inches between each bulb. This gives each of us the personal space we need to multiply healthily for several more years before needing division again. Backfill the holes with soil, water us in thoroughly to settle the earth around our roots and eliminate air pockets, and then mulch lightly. We will rest through the summer, gathering strength before sending down new roots in the autumn in preparation for a spectacular, rejuvenated display come spring.
