It's That Time Of The Year For Daffodils
© All photos by Clay Higgins
I'm into a ramble here this month, so stick with me, as we discuss that "bad" month for daffodils. In May, there's a lot more going on in the garden then that which first grabs your eye. This is the month for unrully and dying daffodil foliage, and what we can do about it.
Note: The deep yellow foliage in the back is Lycoris. The daffodils in the foreground are 'Perimeter'. Other daffodils in this small plot include 'Golden Stur', 'Golden Bells', N. jonquilla, N. psuedonarcissus, N. obvallaris, 'Itzim', 'Intrigue', 'Baradoc', and 'Twin Sisters.'
Daffodil foliage in my "peanut garden" doesn't look very appealing at this time of the year. However, next year's bloom depends on this years foliage taking in the sun to develop - well, this year in the bulb. So don't cut it down until the tips start showing yellow. That takes about six to eight weeks after the bloom period.
Some people put there daffodil foliage into braids to make the foliage look better. However, I do it two ways. In my larger daffodil beds that are never in front of my house, I leave it the way it grows and let it flop on the ground if it wants. No one sees it but me, and I only look at it to check my crosses. The other method I use is to plant companion plants in with the daffodils to mask the foliage.
This picture is of the garden that I built last fall in the circle at the end of the driveway. "http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/daff..." Those that read my article last fall will recognize it as a formerly all grass area that I mowed. No more mowing.
There are over 100 different daffodils clumps planted in this plot. It's surprising how many bulbs a plot that is teardrop shaped, 55 feet in it's longest diameter, and 37 feet in its widest point, can absorbe. Not only are the bulbs planted there, but it also contans a liberal smathering of daylillies, including Stella D' Ore, various types of cone flowers, daisies, blazing stars, siberian irises, black-eyed suzans, dutch irises, and hycinths to name a few. From this picture above, it doesn't look like there is much daffodil foliage, as it is hidden well with companion planting.
However, look at this next picture of the same plot, and in the near ground are very obvious clumps of daffodils, specificilly 'Tete-a-Tete', 'Golden Quince', and 'Jumblie'. Now, if you look closely, you will begin to recognize other daffodil foliage is also present. The idea is to trick the eye into not seeing the daffodil foliage by planting a mixture of other plants as companion plants to the daffodil. This circle garden will have something blooming in it all summer, until frost. Afterwards the burning bush will give a nice display of red foliage.
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