I wait with great anticipation each year for my daffodils to bloom. They appear in that second wave after the earlier bulbs, like snowdrops and crocuses. If your clumps seem to be getting too thick, knowing when to transplant daffodils is the best way to ensure that these sunny, springtime bloomers really perform for you year after year. In part, that’s because, if left unchecked, these clumps of bulbs easily can become overcrowded. Overcrowding can negatively affect the overall health of your plants, putting a real damper on flowering.

Fortunately, keeping on top of this garden task isn’t too tricky. Better still, once you divide daffodils, you can expand the footprint of your spring-flowering garden beds or share extra daffodil bulbs with friends, family, and neighbors.

How daffodils grow

Learning how these bulbs naturally spread can help to inform your decisions about when to transplant daffodils. Let’s say you planted some daffodil bulbs a few years ago and they’ve really thrived. Over time, those original parent bulbs develop smaller “daughter bulbs” or bulblets, which remain attached to one another in one big clump underground. It’s possible to divide them so that the plants continue to thrive—plus you get more daffodils!

How closely together you planted the parent bulbs in the first place may influence your decisions about when to divide daffodils. For instance, if you placed all of your bulbs really close together at the time of planting, you may need to dig up, divide, and replant your daffodils much sooner than if you allowed for much wider spacing of your parent bulbs. I understand the logic of planting your bulbs more closely together to avoid big spaces in the garden. But in the long run, it may be better to spread them out a bit.

Why would you want to transplant daffodils?

There are a few good reasons to transplant daffodils:

• If you notice your daffodils just aren’t thriving, there may be a problem with the original planting site. Spring bulbs, like crocus, tulips, and daffodils, should be planted in well-drained soil. Without good drainage, the plants are more susceptible to disease and they’re more likely to produce smaller blooms. Lack of sunshine can also contribute to uncharacteristically small blooms. (While daffodils tolerate some partial shade, they’ll look their best with about six hours of sunlight per day.)
• Fewer flowers overall also can indicate bulb overcrowding. Has your clump expanded over time? If that’s the case, it may be time to divide and plant bulbs elsewhere.
• You need to move them to another garden.
• You may have planted daffodil bulbs in a pot—or purchased potted daffodils—that you wish to transplant to the garden.

When to transplant daffodils

Regarding when to transplant daffodils, you have a couple of options. If you need to move underperforming plants because their growing conditions aren’t quite right, wait until your plants have finished blooming and the leaves start to die back. You can move a clump while your plants still have green leaves, but they may not bloom for you the following year.

If you’ve saved your bulbs for fall planting, the proper time depends on your climate. You want your planted bulbs to have enough time to root before temperatures plummet. In locations with very mild winters, that could be late November or even early December. In areas where hard frosts come earlier, you might want to establish bulbs by late September or early October.

How divide divide daffodil bulbs

Use a shovel, spade, or digging fork to dig around the perimeter of the daffodil clumps you want to remove. Go a bit wider to avoid nicking individual bulbs with the edge of your tool. Work your way underneath the clump and lift. Lightly remove excess dirt so you can check the bulbs for visible signs of damage or rot.

You may notice that some of the larger bulbs have developed smaller bulbs. Use a gentle twisting motion to separate these new bulblets from the parent bulbs.

Replanting daffodil bulbs

Before re-planting, amend the soil with compost or other organic matter. You can also mix some bone meal into the bottom of the hole for each bulb being planted. Plant them as deeply as they were planted when you removed them from their previous spot in the garden. Fill in the space around the bulbs well and water.

How to store the bulbs until planting

If you want to wait until fall to plant your divided bulbs, they need to dry out in a dark place for a couple of weeks. Spread them out in a basement, garage, shed. A fan can help to speed up the process.

Once they’re dry, label each variety with info on flower color, growth habit, etc., and place them inside separate, breathable onion or mesh bags. For longterm storage, put the bulbs in a cardboard box or paper bag, and store in a cool dry place. (Note: avoid the refrigerator as it can be too cold for bulbs!)

Aftercare for transplanted daffodils

Once you’ve replanted your daffodil bulbs, here are some tips on caring for them in their new garden home:

• Water: Water bulbs right after transplanting to help them to become established.
• Mulch: Add arborist’s chips, pine straw, shredded bark, or similar material around daffodils to minimize weeds.
• Fertilizer: Once new daffodil leaves emerge in early spring, choose a warm day to top-dress the area with a slow-release, organic fertilizer and water in lightly.

When will transplanted daffodils bloom again?

Most fall-transplanted daffodil bulbs should bloom next spring. That’s especially true if you allowed daffodil foliage to die back naturally before digging up the bulbs. (Usually occurring by late spring or early summer, this process allows your plants time to convert the sun’s solar energy into the energy stores needed for next year’s flowering.)

More bulb-growing advice

• When to fertilize bulbs
• When to plant dahlias
• When to plant gladioli bulbs
• How to grow dahlias in pots