Basics of Daffodil Growing
any other garden flower will produce best if the soil is dug deep in the 18 to 24 inch range. Plants need a place for their roots to grow, and have been known to push the bulbs out of the ground when the roots have no place to go.
In the average garden, digging six to eight inches deep will provide adequate beds for daffodil gardening. Plant the daffodils at the bottom of the bed, and it will produce green foliage and bright flowers useful for home decoration. Be careful about planting daffodils in beds with other flowers that create hugh clumps, as the daffodils not being an aggressive flower may get forced out.
As a general rule, daffodils need 6 hours of direct sunlight a day with the morning sun being best. Do not plant daffodils close to the North side of your house where it never gets sun, or under evergreen trees as the shade will cause the daffodils to decline after a few years. Dappled shade created by deciduous trees is fine, as the daffodils will do their thing before the trees come into full leaf. Also, as a general rule, plant daffodils outside the drip of the tree limbs. Do not plant near or under trees like maples, tulip populars, etc., that have a large and shallow root system. The roots will compete with the daffodils for moisture and nutrients, and will, with the uncontrolled spread of shallow roots, make it almost impossible to dig the daffodils for thinning.
For daffodils, sand is the best median for soil amendment. A mixture of 1/3 sand, 1/3 peat, and 1/3 red clay produces great daffodils. A mixture of 50 percent or better sand produces great daffodils as well. Using "grit" in the soil is also a recommended item when drainage needs to be increased.
Mulch the daffodils beds after the weather gets cold. A light covering of an inch is adequate except for the colder zones. Add two inches of mulch for weed and grass control, and remulch each year to maintain that control factor. Mulch should be turned into the daffodil beds when the bulbs are dug. It helps maintain the organic matter in the soil that is so necessary for good growing. After replanting, add more mulch. Pine bark mulch is the best commercial mulch for daffodils, however, any mulch is better than no mulch.
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