OK. So you said you planted the bulbs 3 years ago. Have you always had this difference in performance? Did the bulbs come from the same source? Have you treated the post-flowering foliage the same way in both beds? Have you added any fertilizer or compost to either or both beds? Are there any trees and/or shrubs competing with the bulbs in each bed? Can you be more specific about the shade/sun difference? How many hours of direct morning or afternoon sun does each bed get? Have you ever dug up any of the bulbs to compare their size or how much they have divided?

Steve

Hi Steve, Here are the answers to your questions!

-The flowers in the bad bed (bed 1) have been decreasing in number each year. The first year they bloomed about two weeks later than the other bed, but there were more flowers. Then fewer last year, and only one this year.
-I have mulched the beds equally each year but not added any fertilizer that I can recall.

-Bed 1 (bad bed) has an Annabelle hydrangea and a regular ol' holly, but not right on top of the bulbs. Bed 2 (good bed) has an Ilex 'Steeds', and three small mountain laurel. I planted a few perennials in the fall (perennial geranium, Weigela 'my monet,' sedum), but more of them in the good bed than the bad bed and I doubt there's much root competition yet.

-I'm not totally sure on hours of sun. Both get morning shade and afternoon sun, filtered at times by trees depending on the month/angle of the sun. The bad bed has a tree closer to it, but even the sunniest part of the bed did not have daffodils blooming.

What kind of tree is near the "bad bed", a maple? Tree roots, especially feeder roots go way beyond the drip line of a tree. Dig up one of the bulbs from the bed that's not doing well and see how many roots you are dealing with in that bed. See what the bulb looks like. How big is it? Has it divided? If I had to guess, I would say it's a combination of sun exposure and tree root competition. But I'm guessing at this point.

As far as depth is concerned, the rule of thumb is to plant bulbs as deep as 2 and a half times their size. So a three inch tall daffodil bulb should be planted about 7 and a half inches deep. Planting them too deep would tend to prevent a bulb from dividing. Unless you are an really energetic planter, it's hard to plant daffs too deep.

Steve

No, it's a linden tree. It's not that close by, it's just very tall so shades a wide area. The bed is not right under it or anything. The bed does not have any tree roots in it--I have dug in it a lot over the years. I will dig up a bulb if I can tomorrow!