Bulbs do not tend to need much maintenance, and much will depend on whether the bulbs are left to naturalise in grass or are part of a formal planting area.

Bulbs in Grass

Bulbs left to naturalise in grass will not need as much attention as those planted in formal sites in the garden, but you do need to make sure that you dead-head regularly, feed occasionally and mow the grass at the correct time.

Deadheading

Removing faded blooms regularly will extend the season and improves the vigour of bulbs by stopping them wasting energy on unwanted seed production. Nip off any dying flowerheads through the stems below the seed pods. However, if you want to harvest the seed capsules later, leave a number to ripen on the plant and then cut the stems to the ground after harvesting the seed.

Feeding

You do not need to feed bulbs in grass regularly, especially with nitrogenous fertilizer as it will encourage the growth of the grass at the bulbs' expense. If a feed is needed, use a high-potash fertilizer to promote flower production.

Mowing the Grass

If growing early-flowering bulbs such as daffodils, do not cut the grass until at least six weeks after they have flowered, or until the foliage is turning yellow. Autumn-flowering bulbs such as Colchicum will start their growth before the end of the lawn-mowing season; when the first tips of the flowering shoots appear, mow with the blades set high enough to avoid them. Stop mowing when the shoots are too tall to escape the blades.

If you are growing bulbs that increase by self seeding, do not mow the grass until the seed capsules have shed all their seed - usually about three weeks after the leaves begin to die down.

Bulbs in Borders

After the bulbs have finished flowering, let their leaves die down completely cutting them down with secateurs to ground level. Do not tie the leaves together whilst they are still green to make them look tidier; this will reduce their capacity to photosynthesize and store energy in the bulb for the next growing season, and the bulb will lose vitality.

Permanent bulb plantings need little maintenance until the bulbs become overcrowded, when they should be lifted and divided. No feeding should be necessary during their first year, but giving them one or two applications a year of a low-nitrogen, high-potash fertilizer will encourage a fine display in subsequent years. Bulbs need adequate moisture during the growing season, and so you may need to water them if there is a prolonged drought. You should deadhead the flowers at regular intervals.