Daffodil plants, when properly cared for, multiply in number. Most varieties perennialize and over the years will fill in a large area with their sunny spring blooms. That’s why learning how and when to divide daffodils is a worthwhile endeavor. You can move divided plants to other parts of the garden to spread their sunny spring color or share some of your favorite bulbs with friends, family, or neighbors.
Splitting daffodil bulbs is part of good daffodil care and can play an important role in the growth and the revitalization of established plants. Let’s explore how and when to divide daffodils, and take a look at post-transplant care to ensure your bulbs keep coming back for years to come.
Explore expert-approved perennial plants that pair perfectly with daffodils and keep the color going from spring through summer!
Do You Need to Divide Daffodils?
Daffodil bulbs, when planted in large numbers, are likely to flourish season after season. However, their growth and ability to naturalize and produce bulbs varies greatly by type.
While some daffodil varieties are able to grow for decades, multiplying slowly over time, others are much more likely to spread. The spreading ability of naturalizing or perennializing bulbs greatly impacts the need and frequency for dividing and transplanting.
Though daffodils can quickly fill beds with color, overcrowded plants will decrease in flower production over time. This makes dividing and transplanting daffodils important for good blooming and maintaining plant health.
Only divide and transplant healthy, established daffodils. Daffodils that aren’t blooming because they're too young or not healthy do not tolerate transplanting well. You can sometimes get bulbs to recover in a year or so and the blooms will gradually improve, though this process requires some patience.
When to Divide Daffodils
Determining when to move daffodils depends on a variety of factors. As a rule, dividing and transplanting daffodils every three to five years is sufficient to keep plants healthy. Once you dig up the bulbs and spread them out, they often cover twice as much area as the original number with two or three times as many bulbs as were originally planted.
What time of year is best to divide daffodil bulbs? Though you can technically move plants anytime, it’s best to do so while plants are dormant. This helps prevent undue stress and results in the best chance of success.
The best time is when the foliage has begun to die back, but is not completely gone. Leaving foliage feeds the plant and ensures healthy bulbs with plenty of stored sugar for the next season's growth.
Summer is generally considered ideal, as plants have already started to die back naturally. It is also possible to lift and divide daffodils in the fall, but trying to find bulbs that have completely died back can prove difficult.
How to Divide Daffodils
A large shovel is the best tool for dividing daffodils. Dig around plants and lift the clump gently. The idea is to not cut into the bulbs, which can invite rot and mildew.
Once you have lifted the clump, brush and shake off the excess dirt. Pull apart the bulbs. They should separate easily. Any little bulbs still clinging to the parent bulb should be allowed to mature and separate naturally, so don't force them apart. Discard any that are diseased or damaged.
How & When to Transplant Daffodils
You can plant divided daffodil bulbs immediately or store them for the summer and transplant in fall. If the leaves are still healthy after dividing, leave them to continue gathering solar energy. If foliage is dead, cut back daffodil leaves before transplanting bulbs.
An easy way to remember proper bulb planting depth is that you plant bulbs twice as deep as they are tall. Space daffodil bulbs at least 6 inches (15 cm) apart. Water divided daffodils after transplanting. This helps promote root development through summer and into fall.
Plants have already gathered and stored energy in their bulbs for the current growing season, so fertilizing daffodils is not necessary at this time. You can give plants a light layer of mulch to help them conserve moisture and protect them from heaving through the winter.
Storing Divided Daffodil Bulbs
Many gardeners dividing daffodils in summer choose to store their bulbs before planting. To do so first clean, dry, and cure daffodil bulbs.
Remove any excess soil with dry hands. Wetting or rinsing bulbs can encourage mold, so avoid cleaning them off with water. Lay divided bulbs across a newspaper, drying rack, or screen to cure.
Pack dried bulbs into paper bags or boxes, allowing for good air circulation. Store bulbs in a cool, dry, dark place throughout the duration of summer. A garage is a perfect spot. When fall arrives, plant your divided daffodil bulbs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you divide daffodil bulbs in the fall?
Divide daffodils once plants are dormant. Dig them up in summer, just after foliage has started to die back to the ground. Transplant them immediately or store them until fall to transplant daffodils then.
How often should you divide daffodils?
Frequency can vary. While some types grow quickly, others may multiply at a much slower rate. Most daffodils, however, benefit from division every 3 to 5 years.
What happens if you don’t divide daffodils?
As daffodils continue to grow, plants are likely to become overcrowded. This results in competition for water and other nutrients and can cause a decrease in blooms. Division can help rejuvenate established planting beds and allow new plants to mature and multiply.
This article features products available from third party vendors on the Gardening Know How Shop. Keep in mind that our plant inventory is limited—so if you’re thinking of purchasing, don’t wait!
-
8 Noteworthy Native Azaleas Every Gardener Should Know – And Grow!Native azaleas offer brilliant blooms in a range of colors and sizes. Here are a few favorites to get inspired and start working on a native shade garden!
-
Growing Climbing Roses: How To Create Elegant Displays With Maximum BloomsMaster the art of growing stunning climbing roses with this essential guide to creating vibrant, fragrant walls and structures all summer long.
-
How To Transplant Trees From WoodsLearn the best practices for transplanting deciduous and evergreen trees from the forest.
-
How To Avoid Magnolia Tree Transplant ShockSometimes homeowners find their magnolia isn't planted in an ideal location, which leads them to ask, “Can I transplant a magnolia tree?”
-
How To Transplant A Tree That Produces FruitHow to transplant an apple tree? What is lemon tree transplant shock? Can mature fruit trees be transplanted? Read on for answers to fruit tree transplant questions.
-
Moving Established Peonies: How Do You Transplant A Peony PlantOver time, peonies may fail to bloom as before. Moving established peonies is one solution, but can you transplant peonies? Find out here.
-
Moving Pampas Grass: When Should I Transplant Pampas Grass PlantsPampas grass is a stunning addition to the landscape, forming mounds of around 10 feet (3 m.) in diameter. With its quick growth habit, it is easy to understand why many growers ask, “Should I transplant pampas grass?”. Click this article to learn more.
-
Do Sunflowers Transplant Well – Learn About Moving Sunflower PlantsGrowing sunflowers in your landscape provides big yellow blooms that simply shout summer. But do sunflowers transplant well and should you move them at all? Click on the following article to learn more about moving sunflower plants in the garden.
-
Firebush Transplant Guide – How To Transplant A Firebush ShrubFirebush is a fast-growing shrub that reaches heights of 3 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 m.) fairly quickly and moving a firebush can be tricky. Click on the following article for tips and advice on transplanting a firebush without damaging the roots.
-
How To Transplant Bergenia: Dividing And Moving Bergenia PlantsBergenia may bloom and grow beautifully for several years, then suddenly stop performing. This could be because it is choking itself out and needs to be divided or because something in its environment changed and it needs to be moved. Learn more here.
