Nothing says spring as beautifully as the sight of blooming crocus, daffodils, tulips and hyacinths. Once their flowers start to fade, though, it is important to give them the care they need to bloom again the following spring.

Blooming uses an enormous amount of a bulb's energy; bulbs need the opportunity to 're-charge' their supplies. Energy from the sun is gathered by leaves and used to increae bulb size and produce new flower buds. Without enough exposure to sunlight the bulbs can't make and store the energy they need to put on a good display.

Resist the temptation to tie or braid leaves together or trim them off soon after the flowers fade [1]. Leaving the foliage intact and healthy until it dies back natuarally [2] is one of the most important things you can do to take good care of your bulbs. Removing faded flowers to prevent seed development is another.

You can also encourage good growth by fertilizing bulbs once they are through blooming. Use about two pounds of 'bulb food' per hundred square feet of garden space.

If bulbs bloomed poorly, dig them up after their foliage yellos, and separate them according to size [3]. Store the larger bulbs over the summer in a dry, well-ventilated location, then replant them in autumn. Discard the smaller bulbs; the likelihood of their growing larger is minmal in our climate.