Daffodil leaves

[Highlander]

Hi, for years I have been leaving daffodil leaves in the belief that they provide energy for the bulb BUT I have just been instructed by OH to cut them off now. Apparently OH has heard TV experts like Alan Titchmarsh and others say that you can cut them back as soon as the flowers fade.
Don't want to argue with OH as they are invariably correct in everything but I would appreciate a second opinion. Don't forget that we are weeks behind even here in north Scotland!
Thanks.

[veggiechicken]

Argue - go on, I dare you! You cut the flower HEADS off when they finish flowering but leave the leaves. There is a bizarre fad for tying them in knots - not for me. I leave mine to die back naturally.

[scarey55]

Yup, same here, I cut the dead flowers off but leave the leaves (iykwim) I don't tie them in knots either - I think that is just to make them tidy and gawd knows, I don't have a tidy garden

[mothhawk]

No way cut off the leaves! How is the plant going to grow and store up food to make a new flower next year if you cut off the very part that photosynthesises? As VC says, just deadhead them and when the leaves have faded and turned brown, then cut (don't pull) them off.

[bearded bloke]

My local council likes to have literally miles of daffodils beside the footpaths around town,along most sections of single & dual carriageway A roads,on most of the roundabouts,plus the inevitable areas in the parks.Regardless of how awkward it is to mow around them,they never cut those areas until the leaves have turned brown & fallen naturally.

[Jonthefish]

No expert here, but I would leave them on, only cause I'm Welsh!!!!

[rustylady]

Sorry Highlander's OH - you must have misheard. Cut the faded flowers off, but leave the leaves to feed the bulb.

[Pumpkin Becki]

I wholeheartedly agree with everyones posts, deadhead the faded flowers so the plant isn't wasting energy trying to make seed, but leave the leaves on for at least six weeks after flowering has finished to make sure the bulbs have stored enough energy for next year

[Nicos]

Apparently the only daffs you should leave both heads and leaves on is the wild variety ( 'host of golden daffodil' type)..as they are the only daffs which need seeds to reproduce.

We have millions of them in our hedgerows...but over the years peeps take handfuls of flowers on their Sunday walks- and now their numbers have vastly declined.

...so yep- cut off your flower heads but leave the leaves until they are yellow/brown and come away from the bulb with a gentle pull. That way you'll have a much stronger plant- and flower- next year!

..out of interest ( I'm always prepared to hear an alternative point of view- esp from an expert)...does anyone have a quote from one of the TV gardeners saying to cut the leaves off before they die back???

I expect , as you suggest, as you are in Scotland, you'll be a few weeks behind the South of the UK in removing the leaves...when they are ready

[VirginVegGrower]

I deadhead all spring flowering bulbs as the blooms fade. Those in pots get put to the back of the greenhouse to store down until I take them in during autumn/winter. Those planted have their leaves left in the long grass until yellow/brown and then I can now the whole lawn. But that area is more meadowlike/naturalistic. Not a formal lawn at all. I hate squares.

[Highlander]

Thanks

Just as I thought, now I have to inform OH

[Rosee]

Ooh daffodils, I forgot about them, would love to get some in the borders if the new front garden for next year, when do you plant spring bulbs? X

[veggiechicken]

In the autumn Rosee - when they start going on sale in the GCs. Plenty of time to think about what you want to plant there!

[Rosee]

Thanks vc, I'm so excited to be able to get in the garden again and the sun here isn't helping lol I want to do it all now

[AkionTotocha]

I don't tie them in a knot, but wrap one of the leaves around the central cluster of leaves, then poke the leaf end through the fold? tie a large one leaf knot around the main group. It makes a group of leaves that look like a bunch of wheat? I don't think tying all of the leaves into one big knot looks very pretty.

That way it keeps the leaves safe from being buried if you plant something else near them.