"helco" wrote in message
m...
I have some clumps of daffodils that don't bloom or else bloom very
sparsely. Some have buds that die off. I've tried giving them bone meal
after bloom (or nonbloom), but it hasn't helped. Other daffodils in my
yard bloom profusely. I am about to dig up the non-bloomers. Question:
Should I try replanting them elsewhere, with nice compost in the holes
etc., or should I let them do their bit by tossing them into the compost
pile?

heclo
East central Illinois

I've received a variety of answers here. I'll answer various questions that
were raised:

1. I always let the foliage die off on its own, and I always deadhead
(though not always soon enough). Some of the foliage gets shaded by hostas
after a while -- but those aren't necessarily the ones that don't bloom.

2. There's been some disagreement in the answers about whether they're the
right depth. Since some of those clumps look "leggy," I suspect they're not
deep enough, rather than too deep.

3. Some of them were getting lots of sun when they were planted, but their
spots are now shady. However, there doesn't seem to be much consistency
there -- some of the good bloomers are equally shaded.

4. Some of the clumps that don't bloom are newer than the good bloomers, so
I don't think they're too crowded.

5. Central Illinois soil is good (think corn and soybeans), and I think I
put compost in with everything when they were first planted.

So -- I'll put markers on the duds, and once the foliage has died back I'll
dig them up. I'll replant them at the proper depth, if that seemed to be a
problem, I'll move some to sunnier locations, and I'll give everything some
compost and phosphorusand/or bone meal. And then if they still don't
bloom -- they're compost.

Thanks, everyone, for your replies.

helco