Daffodils – Spring in the Garden

They bring spring with them! Daffodils bloom in often still-wintry, dreary beds, bathing them in cheerful colors. You can simply enjoy them, because daffodils require hardly any care.

Their blossoms resemble narrow, long bells, and they bloom around Easter time. It's no coincidence they're also called "Easter Bells" (Osterglocken) in German. As early bloomers, daffodils herald the arrival of spring. Their yellow-orange flower heads are an indispensable sight in any garden.

Daffodils are true classics. Their cultivation began in Europe as early as the 18th century, and over 20,000 hybrids have been created to date. With up to 40 different species, there's a lot to experiment with—and for you as a gardener, there's much to discover.

Daffodils bloom from February to May in shades of white, yellow, and orange. Some wild species even bloom in autumn. There are small varieties that grow only 5 centimeters tall, and larger ones reaching up to 60 centimeters. Every year, they adorn flowerbeds anew in spring. Their natural habitat is light woodlands, which is why they prefer moist, humus-rich soils. Many of these flowers emit a light, pleasant fragrance that entices you outdoors.

Daffodils aren't demanding. These low-maintenance flowers prefer sunny spots, but otherwise, they don't need much. You can cultivate daffodils in any normal garden soil and even in lawns. In lawns, these flowers tend to naturalize. If you can't get enough of their charming blooms, this is a great way to create a whole sea of daffodils.

You can also easily plant daffodils in containers. This is why they're often sold pre-forced as houseplants. When planting bulbs, pay attention to the planting depth. It's customary to plant bulbs two to three times deeper than their height. Plant daffodil bulbs about 15 centimeters (6 inches) apart with the tip pointing upwards into the soil.

The usual planting time is September. The earlier daffodils are planted, the better they'll withstand the first frost. However, it's also possible to plant the bulbs later, as long as it's not freezing yet. After planting, water the bulbs generously to encourage faster rooting.

Daffodils aren't as sensitive to moisture as other flower bulbs. Therefore, you should pay attention to the soil conditions if you want to combine them with other plants. Generally, however, it's no problem to plant daffodils with other early bloomers like crocuses, tulips, or snowdrops. This creates a wonderful spring bed.

After blooming, prevent the formation of seed pods. This saves your daffodils unnecessary energy. Only remove the foliage once it has yellowed and can be easily pulled away. If the daffodils are in your lawn, you should only mow the lawn after the foliage has withered. Otherwise, this weakens the plants and can prevent new blooms.

Should your daffodils show fewer blooms after a while, dig them up after the foliage has yellowed and separate the daughter bulbs. You can then replant these and once again enjoy their usual floral splendor.