When to Fertilize Spring Bulbs for Best Blooms

The golden rule for fertilizing spring bulbs like daffodils and hyacinths: feed them when their leaves are actively growing. This begins when foliage first emerges from the ground, signaling that roots are active and ready to absorb nutrients.

There are two optimal windows:

• September: Apply a slow-release fertilizer (Osmocote, Dynamite, Milorganite) so nutrients are available through fall and winter as the bulb prepares for spring flowering.
• Late February: Apply a fast-release fertilizer (10-10-10, Miracle-Gro) well before flower emergence to fuel vigorous leaf growth, which replenishes the bulb after blooming.

Daffodils are light feeders, so use a light hand. The September feeding builds the flower; the February feeding rebuilds the bulb.

daffodil