How to Divide Spring Flowering Bulbs and Share with Your Neighbors

If your spring flowering bulbs-daffodils, tulips, crocus, and hyacinth-are multiplying each year and thriving in your garden, chances are the bulbs would do equally as well in your neighbor's yard since it's basically the same soil and climate. Why not share the bounty of your spring flowering bulbs with neighbors and friends By digging and separating flowering bulbs every few years, you keep your beds from being overcrowded and add the opportunity to double, triple, or quadruple the groupings of spring flowering bulbs in your landscape. Instead of replanting all of the bulbs yourself, or throwing away unused bulbs, replant half of what you take out of the ground and give the other half away. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mature spring flowering bulbs already planted in garden
• Trowel or shovel
• Peat Moss
• Old nylon stockings or box

1. Spring bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, hyacinth, and crocus can be gently removed from the ground once the leaves have turned yellow. As these bulbs are planted 6-inches or more down (crocus are shallower), gently loosen the dirt around the leaves with a trowel until the bulbs can be pulled out of the ground.

2. Once the major section of bulbs has come out, dig around in the dirt for the extra bulbs that fell off.

3. Separate and brush the excess dirt off all the bulbs.

4. Examine each bulb for damage and discard any that are soft and mushy or have been cut deeply by the trowel. Lay in the shade or on newspaper in the garage to allow the bulbs to dry out for a few days.

5. Bulbs can be stored in a box of peat moss or in an old nylon stocking until fall. Keep varieties separated and label for future planting.

6. When it's time to plant bulbs in your climate, plant half of the bulbs you've saved for yourself.

7. With the rest, divide into packages for your neighbors and friends. Label the packages with the variety and planting instructions.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to give bulbs only to neighbors that show an interest. To avoid the bulbs not being planted, give friends and neighbors a little bit of warning about the gift they are about to receive.
• Do not damage or remove the brown skin covering the bulb.

Resources

• The Flower Gardening Made Easy website helps novice gardeners with advice on starting a flower garden.
• This website gives detailed information about all varieties of spring flowering bulbs.