I think that fertilizing bulbs works well when it is applied when they first start showing their sprouts in early spring. That is when their root systems are fully developed and there is less chance of burning new tender root tips that would be forming in the autumn. If you want to fertilize in the autumn put the fertilizer on top of the soil - if it is put in the hole under the bulb when planting it, it can do more harm than good.

I know there are folks here that don't ever fertilize bulbs and don't think it is necessary - my soil is a fertile sandy loam that drains well and most bulbous plants seem to love it. When I fertilize my bulbs it makes them bigger and stronger, with healthy foliage and larger flowers with more vivid and deeper colors.

Some double flowered daffodils are prone to bud blasting. I had the daffodil Golden Ducat in my garden and it rarely had flowers that opened normally. I don't know if the variety is one that is known for bud blast but after years of not impressing me it got yanked. Too wet or too dry soil conditions in the spring time will cause some varieties of daffs to blast.

Good luck with your newly divided daffodil bed, Looking forward to a wonderful springtime!

Usually when I'm longing for spring, even in January, I can see sprouts just waiting to peek = they basically stop @ the mulch line. I just know about the timing - when putting down Fertz. Since it's organic - how long does it take to process and make it down to the root zone. I dunno if there is any benefit to doing a -fall- app as well as a spring app.

Heh. I was looking at past years when both of them bloomed and it's a showstopper for sure. It's only been lately that it's come up , with a bloom and never opening. One of those things where after a winter season, bulbs are the 1st thing I enjoy seeing. As simple as they are, my favorite are the crocus that come up 1st.