Week 15:

REMOVING “RIPE” FOLIAGE

Last week we spoke of garden editing as removing something that does not add to the picture. The flattened yellow foliage of daffodils, scilla and other spring flowering bulbs are no longer nourishing the bulb and it is time for them to go!

The foliage of these bulbs is now “ripe” and can be pulled up by the handful with no danger of pulling out the bulb. Cutting the foliage is a much slower process and leaves behind some of the yellow plant.

Bulb foliage deteriorates rapidly, so I often times leave them in the garden hidden under an evergreen, hosta or other large perennial. This is called composting in place and is a subject we will touch upon more in the fall!