Do I need to dead head tulips and allow the leaves to die off like for daffodils?

1. The tulips are also starting to die off - should I snip off the dying flower stalks to prevent the seeds forming?





2. I planted tulips and daffodils in borders and now that they are dying is there anything else I can plant on these beds so that they will cover the empty space but not prevent the daffodils and tulips coming up next year?

Do I need to dead head tulips and allow the leaves to die off like for daffodils?
After flowering, it is ok to deadhead your tulips but always allow the leaves to die off naturally. If you are concerned about the appearance of the fading greens, try braiding the leaves.Those leaves need all the sun they can get. And the bulb absorbs all that good stuff and starts the process of creating next year's flowers.


What about planting some Daylilies - which is a partially satisfactory solution. Many Daylilies go dormant, leaving vacancies in the soil that the bulbs can occupy during their prime time. When the Daffs/Tulips are done, the Daylilies spring up and start to spread. If you are clever and plant the Daylilies so that they act as screens for the Daffs/Tulips you get total camouflage. If you don't use the screen method, the Daylilies still camouflage the bulb foliage to some extent - making it look like you have a few yellow leaves that you haven't quite gotten around to trimming of the Daylilies.!!


Other people use annuals. Pot them up early so that they get nice and bushy and when the bulb foliage starts looking sickly, pop the annuals into the surrounding soil. Instant cover - and instant colour
Reply:yes.. deadhead and let the foliage die back..





as far as the borders go, just plant annuals.. then there's no competition in the spring.
Reply:Don't let them waste their energy producing seeds, as this energy can instead help build up the bulbs ready for flowering next year. So dead-deading is a good idea. Make sure that they are watered well enough, to continue the rest of this years growth/energy production. Next years flowers will be formed in the bulbs this year, before the leaves die off, so now is a very important time for them.





You could sow some annuals in your containers for summer colour, which would die off at the end of the summer, such as Calendulas, Eschscholzia californica, etc, depending on your choice and the height of the plants that you'd like. (These are both about 12'' tall. Otherwise, you can buy bedding plants that are shallow fine rooted plants that won't disturb the bulbs.





If you want something more permanent, I'd recommend herbaceous perennials, which will die back in the winter, to resurface early next summer. You could grow Hostas - attractive foliage and some with good showy flowers, Perennial Geraniums, which come in a variety of colours, growing to about 18''. Otherwise, you could try some herbs, such as Origanum, and add freshly to your food.





Don't plant the plants immediately above the Tulips etc, growing them in between the bulbs. This will mean that next year's bulbs can grow straight upwards, without their growth being stopped in any way.





Good luck! Rob
Reply:Don't worry about you tulips and daffodils coming up next year. I've had them push though rock to grow. ( they also multiply fast) When mine wither I cut them down to just under the mulch. I always plant annuals in their place. As long as you don't dig up the bulbs you can plant where ever you want. Make sure the plant you pick will be right for the spot (ex.) shade or sun.
Reply:I think you better treat them just the same as the nutrients are taken back into the bulb for the next growing season .





You could uproot them and store tham in a cool dry place over summer till early spring and replant It would be nice to have a change in the growing season with different plants dont you think?
Reply:Yes , dead head the tulips and daffodils and leave them to die back naturally, don't braid the leaves as has been suggested, or bend them over. All that will happen is you will break them and they will come up blind next year. Apply a general purpose fertiliser to help build the bulbs up for next year.


Plant any thing you want in the spaces, it wont matter what, as long as you don't disturb the bulbs. if you decide to plant annuals, try trailing lobelia, alyssum, petunia, and senico as these are a few that have a bit of spread and will hide most of the leaves.


Professional Gardner for 30 odd yrs.

sandals