Expert: Kenneth Joergensen - 3/7/2004

Question
I planted daffodile bulbs last year and they came up but most have great follage and no blossoms.  I live in Richmond VA not sure what zone that is.  I know not to trim the follage away before they turn brown and are completely dryied up and can just be pulled away easily.  
My house is in a huge oak forest and we have millions of leaves every year.  I have tilled some leafe mold into the ground  It is probably pretty acidic.  This bed is in a knot garden flanked  by sidewalk and two buildings.  Not really too  many trees very near.
Also any tips on getting rid (poisioning ) Voles and moles.  I have millions and millions and been fighting them for years.  Thats why daffodils are so necessary.
Thanks
Kathleen

Answer
Daffodils may take some time to develop flower buds and flower.  Provided they are planted in a location which is not too dark they should flower soon. There are early daffodils and late season daffodils (jonquils). Latter may only flower in very late spring.

The large oaks are decidious which means they only leaf out in May. This gives your daffodils time to flower in full sun even if they are subject to shade later in the season. If against expectations the daffodils did not flower, fertilize them and leave the green foiliage to die back (mature) on it's own (do not cut). Next year they should flower. Fertilize them again in early fall (no foliage will be present, but rooting will start in the cool soil) and next early spring.

Leaf mold is excellent for most plants and the daffodils seems very happy in our oak leaf mold.

Voles and moles should trapped, or you can have an exterminator put out poison.