Daffodil Care Guide: How to Add These Pretty Perennials to Your Landscape!

Daffodil Care Guide. Plant of the month image with daffodils and an overview of the blog post.

We’re back with another plant of the month! This February we’re focusing on the Daffodil. As one of the first signs of spring this beautiful flower is a must for adding some joy to your landscape. With it’s wide array of colors and sizes there is a good fit for every space. Our Daffodil care guide will go over all the basics for incorporating this perennial into your landscape but if you have any additional questions just give us a call! We’re happy to answer them and come up with a plan for adding these pretty perennials.

Plant Overview

Common Names: Daffodil, Narcissus
Native to Middle Tennessee: No
Perennial in Middle TN
Deer Tolerant: Yes
Drought Tolerant: No
Low Maintenance

Plant Care

Daffodil is a spring-flowering bulb known for its trumpet-shaped flowers and vibrant colors. With the range of colors moving from bright yellow to pale peach they are a great match for many different styles. Once blooming they also make great cut flowers that can last in a vase for up to a week. So enjoy them in your landscape then bring them inside to add color in your home or office as well!

To ensure the health and vibrancy of your plant this spring, follow this Daffodil care guide:

Light Requirements:

Daffodils prefer full sun to partial shade. This makes them great in most walkways and even naturalized in grassy areas. Being out front and center of a business or home where they can receive all the sunlight they need while showing off their pretty colors is a win for everyone!

Watering:

Daffodils require low to moderate watering. Thankfully spring in the Middle TN area is filled with plenty of rain so there generally isn’t a need for extra watering. Ensure that soil is well-draining to prevent waterlogging and monitor for dry spells but this is mostly a plant it and forget it type of flower!

Soil Type:

The most important soil need for daffodils is making sure that it is well draining. Standing water will cause bulbs to rot and kill your flowers. When planted properly Daffodils will multiply and fill the space with bright color so ensuring proper placement will allow these flowers to flourish.

Fertilization

Apply a balanced fertilizer during the fall months and right before the flowers bloom for the best results.

Pruning:

Trimming daffodils isn’t necessary during or directly after they bloom. If you don’t like the look of spent flowers you can deadhead as they die which will leave just the greenery. Wait until all leaves have yellowed and started to wilt before cutting back the leaves and stems of daffodils. This will ensure that the bulb has pulled in all the nutrients it needs to survive through the next year.

Common Problems

Pests:

Daffodils may be prone to pests such as aphids and slugs. Monitor the plant regularly and take appropriate measures, such as using organic insecticides or introducing beneficial insects.

Diseases:

Common diseases that affect Daffodils include bulb rot and fungal infections. Making sure that there is no standing water around these bulbs will prevent rot and help reduce fungal issues. If you do notice symptoms of disease cut back and dispose of foliage and check environment for needed changes.

Environmental Stress:

Daffodils may suffer from extreme temperatures or drought. Take necessary precautions to protect the plant during adverse conditions.

Daffodils in front of an SCW Group work truck.

Why we Love it:

Daffodils are a popular choice in Middle TN landscapes for good reason!

Early Spring Blooms: Daffodils provide early spring color, signaling the arrival of warmer weather. Since they can grow nearly anywhere in a landscape and also make great cut flowers you can add color all over the place!
Low Maintenance: Daffodils really are mostly a plant them and forget them kind of flower. Once they are well established they’ll multiply and continue to add color every year with little to no effort from you!
Deer Tolerance: So many flowers don’t pass the deer test and that can make planting difficult in Middle TN. Daffodils are deer tolerant making them a great addition for areas with

Conclusion

With this Daffodil care guide you should have a good start on keeping these beautiful Spring flowers healthy and happy in your landscape! We love to add Daffodils along creek sides, in annual flower displays and along entrances. If you need some inspiration head over to our Facebook page to see some more examples of where to plant these brilliant bulbs!