How to Lift and Divide Bulbs

Once the foliage of your bulbs such as tulips and daffodils start to wither, it is time to divide them. However before you start to lift and divide them, remember not all your spring and autumn flowering bulbs may appreciate or even need lifting. Species such as daffodils and narcissi can be left to their own devices and naturalised plants will spread without intervention. To see the varieties that do naturalise and do not need lifting often see our article on naturalising or select naturalising on the select option of the bulb search.

Daffodils
Use a fork, rather than a spade to lift established clumps of daffodils. This helps to avoid damaging the bulbs. Gently split the loosely connected ones and leave small offsets attached to the side of parent bulbs. Get rid of damaged ones which can rot and infect the rest. Some gardeners will store these split bulbs but its better to get them back into the soil. Larger splits will begin to flower again next spring while smaller offsets may take a couple of years. Always replant at the same depth and spacing.

Tulips
Lift and split these bulbs in a similar way to the daffodils. Dry (cure) the bulbs on wire mesh or something similar where they can be spread out, clean of the soil and allow bulbs to harden before storage. After about a week of drying, bag the bulbs in paper and store in a cool, dark, well ventilated place. The stored bulbs can be replanted in the autumn.

Others
Crocus, fritillaria and leucojum are best left to their own devices and not split at all. Autumn flowering bulbs such as cyclamen and autumn crocus do not usually need splitting but if their flowering has slowed, a split and replant will revitalise them.