When is the right time to thin out my daffodils?

Previous homeowners planted them and they have gotten to the point where only a few of them bloom even though there is lush foliage.

When is the right time to thin out my daffodils?
This is what I do. I wait until they have flowered and the foliage has just started to drop. I follow the foliage down with my trowel until I reach the bulb. I lift the bulb and store the bulb "in a cool, dry place" until I'm ready for fall planting.





Now, you can re-plant right after you dig them as this works too. My brother dug up a very old stand of daffodils that was about 50 feet around. He dug them up right after the foliage dropped (using a breaker bar as the soil was sooooo compacted) and then - get this - planted them literally right next to the road and never watered them. This is a small street with just a drainage ditch next to it, no curb. The daffs are right in between the ditch and the road. After we (my mom and sisters) yelled at him for doing this we had to bite our tongues and apologize because come spring, there was literally a row of daffodils 640 feet long along the street!





So, I know this method works as I started doing it after he did it. They have been there since 1996 or 1997 and going strong and they only get rain water. He had to do it so soon because he was afraid he wouldn't find the bulbs if they didn't have any foliage. Following the foliage down to the bulb turned out to be quite smart. I've also learned that plants are quite resilient. :)
Reply:When they are done blooming for the year.
Reply:Could be they don't get enough sun, trees and shrubs may have grown to provide shade over the years. When they have finished flowering and the leaves have started to go brown, dig them up, and replant in sunny positions.
Reply:It is best to leave it until the foliage dies back as this feeds the bulbs for next year.


Having said that, plants flower best when a little hungry, I think your daffs are too happy, so when the blooms have died maybe a good time.