Can I divide my spring flower bulbs? They seem really crowded. Yes, you can.

image from epicgardening.com 

Can I divide my spring flower bulbs?  They seem really crowded.  yes, you can.  

GOOD morning.  Yes, it is going to be hot, humid, uncomfortable and need to drink.  Watch the time outside working in the gardens or just time outside.   I am here this week.  I will be watering in the morning and come home to work in the home office.  We have a camera set up so I will be watching when you drive up.  I am closing at 5 this week.  Still have some nice-looking plants and will continue that all the watering I can do.  I am planting flowerpots to bring to the Franklin Co Fair, if you need color in your garden or patio.  They will be for sale.  Stay safe.
 
Australia family and friends are in the opposite season of winter.  They are having rain, and colder temperatures.  All week long.  Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology.  Affected area west and south Gippsland for damaging wind.  I will check with Evelyn but don’t think the area that Sale is in is affected.  I think they are in the southeast corner.  I will let you know.    Stay warm, stay safe.
 
I had a gardener ask about dividing her tulips, this is what I found.  I just added another job to your gardening.  I wouldn’t do it in the high heat days, but have it on the plan to do. 
 
How to Divide Spring-Blooming Bulbs at the Right Time for More Flowers
Give your spring-blooming bulbs a boost by dividing them when they get overcrowded.
by Andy Wilcox 
Divide spring-blooming bulbs to restore vigor, prevent overcrowding, and increase flowering.
Once foliage dies back, divide and replant the bulbs promptly.
Signs to divide include overcrowding and less flowering.
Many spring-flowering bulbs will pop up and bloom year after year with no help from us. However, daffodils, hyacinths, and other types of bulbs eventually can get overcrowded as they grow. That's your cue to divide them. Here's what you need to know to help your spring-flowering bulbs stay at peak performance through well-timed division.
Which Spring-Blooming Bulbs Should You Divide?
Spring-blooming bulbs are planted in autumn because they need a 12- to 16-week chilling period between 35°F and 45°F to bloom. The plants emerge at the end of the winter or in the early spring. Daffodils, crocus, snowdrops, hyacinths, perennial tulips, and similar hardy spring bulbs are all good candidates for dividing.
In warm climates, spring-flowering bulbs typically never reach the stage where they need to be divided. Where winters are mild, and the chilling temperatures cannot be fulfilled naturally, gardeners typically plant commercially prechilled bulbs that last only one season. These bulbs are treated as annuals and discarded after the spring bloom.
Why Divide Bulbs?
The main reason to divide spring bulbs is to restore vigor. Those bulbs spread and multiply by forming little bulblets called offsets, and those grow into larger bulbs. Over time, the planting can become an overcrowded clump of bulbs. This results in less vigorous plants and fewer blooms. Dividing spring bulbs restores the proper spacing so that each one can get more sunlight, water, and nutrients to fuel stronger growth.
The second benefit is that you get bulbs for free. Though the bulblets of freshly divided bulbs are smaller and may not flower their first year, by year two, they'll be blooming just like the original bulb.
When to Divide Spring Bulbs
Spring bulbs don’t need to divided every year. Even aiming to divide them every 3 to 5 years isn't a good rule of thumb because some bulbs multiply faster than others. Instead of relying on a calendar approach to the task, look for clues from your plants.
When the offset bulbs are sending up stems, and there is too much competition for space and resources, the patch of bulbs will produce fewer, or smaller, flowers than before. Dividing and spacing out these bulbs should result in more flowers in the next year or two.
The best time to divide spring bulbs is once the foliage has started to die back. It’s important to allow the plant time to recharge energy after blooming. Digging them up as soon as they’re done flowering isn’t a good idea. Instead, wait for the foliage to begin yellowing, browning, and dying back before digging up the patch and dividing the bulbs.
How to Divide Spring Bulbs
Use a hand trowel or a garden fork and begin digging up the bulbs several inches away from the patch. Think of it like digging potatoes. If you get too close to the plant or are too aggressive with the shovel, you will damage the spuds. The same idea applies to digging up bulbs. It’s better to start a little farther away and move in than to slice or spear bulbs with the tines. Work the tool underneath the bulbs, remembering they may be quite deep.
After loosening the soil, gently lift the clump out of the ground and remove any soil clods. You may see smaller bulbs growing off the main piece, or a jumble of bulbs all packed tightly together. Gently pull individual bulbs or small clumps free. Look for the natural break points. You may need a garden knife to detach the bulblets.
Replant the bulbs promptly, with proper spacing for the variety. Though not ideal because their vigor may deteriorate, you can also store the bulbs in a breathable bag or box at 60°F to 65°F in a dry and dark location and replant them in the fall. Discard any mushy or otherwise unhealthy-looking bulbs.
Can you divide spring-flowering bulbs in fall when they’d normally be planted?
Yes, you can divide spring-blooming bulbs in fall. The only caveat is that you have to be able to find them. If you plan to divide them in the fall, mark the spot in the spring when the foliage is still present.
How deep should they be replanted?
Spring-flowering bulbs are normally planted 2-3 times as deep as the diameter of the bulb. The depth is measured to the bottom of the hole, so a 2-inch-wide bulb should be planted in a 5- to 6-inch-deep hole.
Should naturalized bulbs be divided?
Spring bulbs planted for naturalizing still benefit from division of any thicker clumps. If you have a nice, even spread of crocuses in your lawn, but a few spots are growing too close together and forming a dense cluster, just dig that clump and divide it, and leave the rest.
Taken from https://www.bhg.com/how-when-to-divide-spring-blooming-bulbs-
Till next time this is Becky Litterer , Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365  Beckysgreenhouse.com  Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer or Becky’s Greenhouse