I planted bulbs for the first time in Fall of 2010. I had lots of blooms in the Spring of 2011: Daffodils, Giant Hyacinths, Grape Hyacinths and Crocuses.
T he Grape Hyacinths and Crocuses have come back each Spring (2012 and 2013). However, far fewer daffoldils have come up each year, and this ear the Giant Hyacinths were smaller and fewer. The pink Giant Hyacinths disappeared, and the white and blue seem to be losing their vigor.
Does this always happen with bulbs? Should I be re-planting bulbs every year or two?
Might I need better drainage? Fertilization?
We have soggy weather in Fall, Winter and Spring, and most of my soil is partly-amended clay. (My part of the Pacific NorthWet has very mild Zone 8 winters, and cool summers.) Sunset Zone 5: Marine influence along the Northwest coast, Puget Sound, and South Vancouver Island
However, the Daffodils and Gin at Hyacinths were even quicker to die off in a small bed that is sheltered from the rain, that I put a lot of grit, bark, compost and manure onto three years ago. The level subsided as the com post was digested, and that bed often gets pretty dry.
I had been told that tulips "can't take it" where I live, I think because of the long, cold, wet late winter and spring. But a few red tulips have been coming back in the same spot for the 5 years I've lived here!