The temperatures are in the 20s at night and barely above freezing during the day this January, and my daffodils are putting out leaves already. What gives? Will the daffodils still bloom in the spring? Should I cover the leaves up to protect them?
What should you do if daffodils come up early in winter?
Daffodils, irises, tulips, and other spring-blooming flower bulbs are tough little plants. Their leaves can freeze, thaw, and still be ok. I never worry about them too much. As long as the flower buds haven’t emerged, you’ll still get blooms in the spring.
Even if some flower buds have emerged and then freeze, your bulb will likely produce other flowers. Sometimes, the frozen flowers thaw and look just fine. If, for some reason, you don’t get any flowers after the leaves and buds freeze, wait until next year and you will see flowers.
If you are worried about the flower buds, you can cover them with a cardboard box or plastic container to keep them warm, but be sure to uncover them during the day if you use plastic.
How to protect the leaves of your daffodils and other spring bulbs in winter
However, if your daffodils are sprouting in winter and you want to protect the leaves from freezing and turning brown, you can cover them with a layer of mulch. I sometimes use leaves that have fallen in my yard, but you can also use pine straw or even bark. If you had a natural Christmas tree, you can cut off the limbs and layer them on top of the bulbs as a protective layer.
Why are my daffodils coming up early?
Spring-flowering bulbs often come up early if planted close to a house or other area where the soil might be slightly warmer. You might also see the leaves emerge if you have a bit of warmer weather in the middle of winter. That happens often in the southeast.
Usually, the worst that happens is the tips of the leaves turn brown when freezing weather returns. So, if you see the leaves of your flower bulbs emerging from the ground before you think they should, don’t worry. They can handle it. Let nature do its thing.