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cutting down greens of daffs / tulips

geum keenbutgreengeum keenbutgreen Posts: 508
in Plants

We are having a garden party next weekend, and currently some of the borders have a lot of very floppy, not very attracted greens from bulbs flopping around and lying down.

I understand that with tulips, etc, ideally you should lift them once they've flowered, but I might not get the chance to do that in time (plus I'm inherently lazy and ideally would rather leave them be if I can, particularly as the perennials are all so big now in the same areas so they are hard to get to).

To improve the aesthetic for the party, would it be ok to cut off the greens? Or is this a huge no no?  

Expert advice from those who definitely know better than I would be hugely appreciated image

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Posts

  • ClaringtonClarington Posts: 4,949

    If you cut them while green they'll loose the vital chance to absorb nutrients through the leafs which basically let the bulb recover from this year's display and build up the energy for next year.

    You may get a poor display next year or no display at all).

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,143

    I really wouldn't - it will damage the flowering next spring.  

    I would leave them as they are and screen them with some plants in pots/containers.

    image


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





  • chickychicky Posts: 10,410

    imageAfraid it is a huge no-no, as you have guessed.  Clari is right that the leaves now are fuelling next years flower production.  Mine are normally ready to tidy at the start of June, but it might be later this year with the cold spring.

  • geum keenbutgreengeum keenbutgreen Posts: 508

    Ah, knickers, I knew it would be better to ask than to go ahead! :/

    So my only option is to dig up if I don't want to see them? Or try and hide them artfully in amongst the perennials? There are so many, if I tried to hide them with pots, I'd be hiding pretty much all of the borders image (and I don't have that many pots!)

  • geum keenbutgreengeum keenbutgreen Posts: 508

    So chicky, do I just wait until they literally 'fall off' by themselves and then they're ready to take away?

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,905

    Hi geum keenbutgreen

    I wholeheartedly agree with your guess and with Clarington's comments. Definitely a huge no no! Its also a huge no no into tying the stems into knots. True gardeners won't be offended by those leaves doing their job for next Spring.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • geum keenbutgreengeum keenbutgreen Posts: 508

    Thanks everyone - good job I have you all here to stop me murdering my garden! 

  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719

    Also going to ask about Tulips folks, being a responsible citizen, Iooked on here first, I know definitely, no removing of leaves on bulbs ,  I grew Tulips for the first time, planted second week in November, as the instructions of my pal Monty, in containers, some have finnished flowering, some are in full flight.  Am not sure how to, or if I should overwinter them.   Peter Seabrooke said in last weeks TV guide, give them a feed now, ready for next year.   Most sites say they will not flower again, bin them.  That seems a waste plus some were a Retirement present in October.  Some sites say dig them up, dry them off, others say plant them in a spare bit of ground.  The only spare bit of ground (where I plant the Polanthus when finnished) near the veg plot, is under water in wet weather, clay soil, I know Tulips dont like this and would most likely rot.  I planted up so many containers, I really need them, one especially, which is deep and heavy I use for Sweet Peas.

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,905

    Hi Nanny Beach. Once the leaves have died back you should dig up the tulip bulbs and store them somewhere cool and dry until re-planting in Autumn. I have to admit that I have never had a huge amount of success with tulips and tend to just buy new bulbs. I can understand you hoping to keep your retirement present so do try the digging up and storing. This time next year you can let us know how they did! image

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Nanny - have you got some spare plastic pots you can transfer them into over the summer? Some good gritty compost and they should be fine for planting later in autumn.

    They do tend to diminish over time, apart from the species and Apeldoorn ones. I don't expect them to last long in the climate up here, but I mainly have mine in raised beds in gritty soil or in containers, and I get  a couple of years from them or maybe a third if I'm lucky.

    If you have some nice pots you want to put other planting in, in subsequent years, put the tulips in plastic pots and then put those inside the nice ones so that you can lift them out easily to change things round. Makes life much easier! image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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