Dividing Flower Bulbs

DIVIDING FLOWER BULBS...

One of the great things about flower bulbs is that after you plant them they multiply like rabbits. All you have to do is plant one little flower bulb and in a few years you will have dozens of them. It is like an investment that just keeps on growing, literally.

But of course, when bulbs multiply they take up more space. The more space they take up, the less room they have to grow. This can cause problems with flower bulbs. It can cause flower bulbs to stop flowering each year, which is certainly something you don't want to have happen.

Because bulbs multiply, it is necessary to divide them every few years. It is very easy to divide bulbs. All you really need is a shovel and a little time.

First thing you need to do is identify the bulbs that need to be divided. The easiest way to identify the bulbs that need to be divided is by paying a little bit of attention to the flower bulb clumps in your yard during the spring. If you find that there is a clump of flower bulbs are not flowering as nicely as they used to, or not flowering and all, chances are those flower bulbs are ready to the divided.

After you've identify the bulbs that need to be divided, you will need to dig them up. Place to shovel a few inches outside of the clump of bulbs and insert the shovel into the ground. Use the shovel to gently the leverage the clump of bulbs out of the ground.

Once the clump is out of the ground, brush away the excess dirt that surrounds the clump of bulbs. Separate the bulbs from each other.

Returned about half of the bulbs you just dug back into the hole, leaving plenty of room around each flower bulb so that they can multiply again for you. Be sure to add some bloodmeal into the hole before covering the bulbs back up. This will ensure that newly divided bulbs have extra fertilizer to help them bloom even better next year. Plus bloodmeal helps a little with keeping up to squirrels and chipmunks away from your newly painted bulbs.

The leftover bulbs from the clump can be used in other places in your yard or can be given away to friends and family. There is nothing better than giving a gift that just keeps on giving.

The best time to divide your bulbs is in the fall. Unfortunately, this does make it a little difficult than trying to locate your bulbs. In the spring when you've identify the clump of flower bulbs that needs to be divided, be sure to mark the location of the clump with some sort of marker that will be able to remain there through the summer.

If for some reason you must divide your bulbs in the spring, make sure that you leave the foliage on the bulbs when you replant them. The bulbs need the foliage in order to recharge themselves with enough energy to survive the winter and flower again in the spring.

Next spring, when your bulbs flower again, you will see a big difference. Now that the bulbs have enough room to stretch out a bit, they will reward you with a fantastic flower display.