Once a flowering bulb such as a daffodil is done blooming, the temptation is to hack it to the ground, says show host Kim Haworth. But it's critical to leave the leaves alone, and to fertilize and water them, because they create the bulb for next year. Once your plants are done blooming, follow these steps, says Haworth: - Remove any seed pods, cutting them down to the base. That way, your plant won't spend a lot of energy making seeds you won't ever use.
- Leave the leaves -- that's what makes the bulbs really strong for next year. Water and fertilize the green plants until the tops begin to die back.
- If you like, braid the leaves loosely to make them tidier. Or, group the stalks together and roll the leaves over, jelly roll-style (figure A). Then fasten the bunch together with a rubber band (figure B).
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