Daffodils are too tall

[Noirin]

My daffodils grew too tall this year. As soon as the first breeze blew they were knocked over. I did put some fertilizer in the bed last year after the daffs had died down mainly for the benefit of other plants in the bed. Is that the cause I wonder and is there anything I can do to stunt their growth for next year?

[rustylady]

The height of the daffodils will depend on the variety - I don't think the fertiliser will have made any difference.

[Alison]

While varieties can make a difference I think that there are other factors too. I assume that this isn't the first year of them growing and that they normally don't grow so tall? I've not had the problem with them coming too tall but last year they were particularly short after the very cold winter so I'm guessing the weather an make a difference. The only other thing I've found that affects them is when they are planted (probably not an issue here), I once planted some over Christmas and although they flowered, they were late and very short the first year - fine after that though.

[Two_Sheds]

Plants that grow "too tall" and weak are often too shady, and are stretching to reach the light. Could it be that?

[Noirin]

They are planted in a north facing front garden in the shade of the house but this is their fourth year there and they were never this tall before. We had a very mild winter here in Dublin so maybe that's the problem. I will happily keep my tall daffs if we get more mild winters, the previous two nearly killed everything in the garden!

[Two_Sheds]

They are planted in a north facing front garden in the shade of the house

I don't think they're getting enough photosynthesis, because of the lack of light. I think, after four years, they're exhausted.