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Do bulbs die if not allowed to grow leaves?
Hi All Some of my borders are full of random bulbs that have spread over the years (previous owner didn’t like gardening!)- e.g. leucojums, hyacinths and bluebells. It’s all a bit of a mess as random plants and colours pop up all over the place. Although I have dug up as many bulbs as I can reach, I still have loads that are growing around roots or in the middle of shrubs and perennials, so I can’t dig them up without damaging or completely removing existing shrubs and plants. 
So my question is - if I keep shearing off the leaves of any bulbs as soon as they emerge from the soil each spring, will the bulbs eventually die naturally? Or am I going to have to sacrifice the existing border, dig the whole lot up and start again...?
So my question is - if I keep shearing off the leaves of any bulbs as soon as they emerge from the soil each spring, will the bulbs eventually die naturally? Or am I going to have to sacrifice the existing border, dig the whole lot up and start again...?
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Without leaves they won't be able to build up a store of food so should eventually run out of steam, something I am hoping will work with horsetails but I won't hold my breath.
The ones you want always die if you cut off the leaves accidentally. The ones you don't want always survive. (Sodd's first law, as applied to the subject). Grape hyacinths and oxalis are the worst.
Nothing works with horsetail. Agent Orange, maybe?
Knowing my luck the wretched horsetails would be the only things to survive that.
OK I think I'm going to be optimistic and keep shearing the leaves off in that case. As a newbie gardener I'm having to learn this thing called patience...
Thank you!