When Do You Fertilize Daffodils?
You should fertilize daffodils when you plant them and then once each spring or fall.
Fertilize During Planting
You need to fertilize your daffodils when you first plant them. Don’t dump the fertilizer into the bottom of the hole. You will need to incorporate it directly into the soil that has been removed prior to replacing it once the bulb is planted.
Fertilize Once Per Year
After the plant is established, you have a choice when you choose to fertilize them, in the spring just as the new plant emerges, or in the fall after the plant has died back. In either case, always apply the fertilizer around the base of the plant, being careful not to touch the foliage with fertilizer as this could burn the plant.
Whichever time of year you choose, you should be consistent.
What Kind of Fertilizer?
When it comes to fertilizing daffodils, you have a few options. You can use packaged bulb food or a fertilizer with a 1:4:4 N-P-K ratio, for example, 6-24-24. [Trinklein, extension.missouri.edu] You should avoid using organic fertilizers such as bonemeal as this attracts rodents, which may make their next meal of your bulbs. [Dr. Hamilton, agriculture.tennessee.edu]
How Much Fertilizer?
When fertilizing during planting, incorporate two pounds of fertilizer into every one-hundred square feet of soil. A general rule of thumb is to use a handful of fertilizer for every twelve bulbs. [Trinklein, extension.missouri.edu] During annual fertilizing, lightly fertilize with a handful of bulb fertilizer around each plant.
