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Tall snowdrops laying down

jamesharcourtjamesharcourt Posts: 465
in Problem solving
I was left some oddly tall snowdrops which get to a stage where they lean over like overgrown grass.

Should I leave this or cut them down/shorter?


Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    All mine do this, they need the leaves to build up the bulb for next year (as do all the other bulbs), photosynthesis and all that biology stuff


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    It's hard to tell from the picture but I think they're snowflakes rather rhan snowdrops. They might be leaning towards the light. If you want to keep them, don't cut them back until the leaves die off naturally. Like all bulbs they need the leaves to build up next year's flowers.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited March 2019
    Those are Spring Snowflakes (Leucojum vernum) rather than snowdrops (which are Galanthus).
    Theyre lovely aren’t they?  

    I would dig those up and divide the clumps when the leaves start to die back ... they look a bit crowded there.

    Plant them fairly deep in light or dappled shade and give them a good watering. 

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/10012/Leucojum-vernum/Details



    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I agree with Dove.  They look congested so give them a good saoking then use a garden fork to push down deep and lift clumps so you can separate and re-plant in soil refreshed with some good garden compost or just cheap MPC and some pelleted chicken manure to help them recover and build up for next year.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    edited March 2019
    I wait for snowflakes to die down and then split the clump. Give them a liquid feed now to help build up the flowers for next year. They will be quite a lot larger than snowdrop bulbs. I then replant. I find they prefer sunnier positions than snowdrops.  Plant the new clump with each bulb about three inches from the next.  They stand being lifted for the summer and then replanting in September. Treat like daffodils really, rather than snowdrops.
  • jamesharcourtjamesharcourt Posts: 465
    Thanks guys, I can't seem to get them to stand up so I'll wait until mid summer and dig them up.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    I think they'd stand better away from the hedge and shrubs


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • jamesharcourtjamesharcourt Posts: 465
    What do you think is the time to move them ... now or later?   They're really drooping onto branches and causing problems out there with the rain adding weight and all ..
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Dovefromabove said:


    I would dig those up and divide the clumps when the leaves start to die back ... they look a bit crowded there.

    Plant them fairly deep in light or dappled shade and give them a good watering. 

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/10012/Leucojum-vernum/Details


    :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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