Can I Transplant My Daffodils and Tulips if They Are Ready to Bloom But Are Too Close?

Season and Time

• Transplant the bulbs as soon as the ground thaws in spring. This timing makes digging easier and saves the plants from cold shock. Conduct the transplant on a cool, moist day or in early morning; mid-day heat works for bare bulbs but it will dry and damage plants with roots.

New Sites

• Choose and prepare a new site before you dig the bulbs to keep the transplant process quick and efficient. Both daffodils and tulips need a large site with full sunshine and good drainage. Plan on at least 3 to 5 inches of space for each bulb or plant.

Soil Preparation

• Prepare the soil ahead of the transplant as well. Dig into the top 10 inches of soil throughout the new bed and remove rocks, weeds and old roots. Turn 4 to 5 inches of organic compost into the soil to loosen and nourish it for root growth. Add bone meal or bulb fertilizer, per manufacturer directions, for quick root establishment and growth.

Transplant Process

• Select and move some of the plants to increase the spacing or move all of the plants, as you wish, to the new location. Dig 6 to 8 inches into the soil at the edge of the flower bed and dig inward to locate the bulbs. Pull the bulbs out one at a time, with root systems and foliage intact, and move them to the new location. Plant them at the same depth in their new site to minimize shock, with 3 to 5 inches of space around them. Water the bulbs with 3 to 4 inches of water and lay 1 to 2 inches of organic mulch over the soil to protect them.