What To Do With Bluebells After Flowering?

Today, I want to talk to you about one of my favorite spring flowers – bluebells! They bring so much color and life to a garden, but as the spring season comes to a close, many of us are left wondering what to do with our bluebells once they’ve finished blooming. There’s no need to worry because I’ve got you covered! Here are some options for what to do with bluebells after flowering:

So, what can you do with bluebells after flowering? You can leave your bluebell flowers (to promote better bulbs/bluebell flowers for next year), clear the foilage by hand, cut the foilage back or dig up the bulbs for replanting.

Those are your options.

So let’s delve deeper into them and answer some of the most common FAQs pertaining to what you can, and should do, after your bluebells have flowered.

Bluebells Flowering

What To Do With Bluebells After Flowering?

Leave Them

One option is to simply leave your bluebells as they are.

As the flowers begin to die off, the plant will start producing seed pods that will eventually drop and self-sow. 

Leaving the leaves in place will allow the bulbs to store energy for next year’s growth, ensuring that your bluebells return stronger next spring.

Clear The Leaves By Hand

Another option is to clear away the dead leaves by hand (with gardening gloves on, of course!)

This will help to tidy up your garden and allow other plants to grow in the space vacated by the bluebells. 

However, be careful not to pull up the bulbs as you clear away the leaves.

Cut The Foilage Back

Cutting back the foliage is another option. 

This can help prevent the bluebells from spreading too much and allow other plants to grow in the space where the bluebells were. 

However, it’s important not to cut back the foliage too early, as the leaves are still crucial for storing energy in the bulbs.

Dig Up The Bulbs

Finally, you can dig up the bulbs if you’re looking to move your bluebells to a new location or simply want to thin them out.

This should be done after the foliage has died back completely. 

Once the bulbs are dug up, they can be replanted in a new location or stored until the next planting season.

Can You Dig Up Bluebells And Replant Them?

You can dig up bluebells and replant them, so long as they grow on your property or you have permission. Digging up wild bluebells to replant them in your garden is an offense.

However, handling the bulbs carefully is essential, as they can be easily damaged. 

When digging up the bulbs, it is best to use a garden fork over a shovel to avoid damaging them with a shovel. 

Once you have the bulbs out of the ground, store them in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to replant them.

Do Bluebells Reseed Themselves?

Bluebells can reseed themselves. 

As mentioned earlier, as the flowers begin to die off, the plant will start producing seed pods that will eventually drop and self-sow. 

This can lead to an abundance of bluebells in your garden, which can be both beautiful and overwhelming. 

If you want to control the spread of your bluebells, you may want to consider cutting back the foliage or digging up the bulbs and replanting them in a more controlled manner.

Lastly 

I hope this article has given you some helpful tips on what to do with your bluebells after they’ve finished flowering. 

Remember, the key is to handle the bulbs with care and to be patient, as these beautiful flowers will continue to bring color and life to your garden year after year – should you want them to!