Can I Dig Up Tulip & Hyacinth Bulbs Before the Foliage Dies Back?
Tulips and hyacinths are perennials and many people prefer to leave their bulbs in the ground and avoid digging them up. However, the flowers in both plants tend to be short-lived when propagated in this manner. It is preferred that the bulbs be dug up, dried and stored for the winter (see Reference 1). The correct time to dig up bulbs is after the foliage has completely died back and not before. The most important reason for this is that the foliage supplies the bulb with the energy it needs for the next season’s growth and flowers (see Reference 2).
