Gardening Hack #1: Don't do this... If you want your plants to thrive year after year, it’s crucial to give them the best chance for survival. One common mistake I see is when gardeners cut back the greenery of spring bloomers like daffodils, tulips, and peonies too soon, only to wonder why they hardly bloom the following year. Here’s the simple explanation: photosynthesis. Yes, that yawn of a topic we all learned about in grade school. Let me quickly give you the cliff notes—we don’t want you to fall asleep a second time. The green leaves of your plant are its food source—they absorb sunlight and send nutrients down to the roots or bulbs. If you remove the greenery too early, you’re cutting off the plant’s ability to store energy for the next growing season. Sure, you might think, "The flowers are done blooming, so what’s the point?" But hold on, my little Black Eyed Susan—it’s all about planning for the future! Gardening is a long-term partnership with nature, and working with her (instead of against her) is the only way to have success. So, what should you do? Leave the greens intact for as long as possible. For my tulips, I let the foliage stay for about two more weeks after blooming before carefully removing the bulbs. I dry them on a screen for a week until the leaves turn a nice, crunchy brown. Then, I store them in a cool, dark place in a paper bag until it’s time for replanting in November. If your tulips remain in the same spot in your yard year after year, there's no need to worry about removing them. Simply wait until the foliage has completely withered before cutting it back. The lesson: Don't cut back the greens until they are so ugly you just can't stand it anymore.That extra time allows the bulb to absorb more nutrients, making it healthier and helping it produce even stronger blooms come spring. Happy Gardening! Got any good gardening wisdom? Drop it below in the comments! Share this post to help spread the word, like this post to help me ♥️🥰 #Gardening #GardenLife #GardenLovers #GardenInspiration #UrbanGardening #GrowYourOwn #GardenGoals #HomeGarden #PlantLovers #GreenThumb