Best bulbs for dividing

Tulipa

Divide tulips late spring, after foliage has almost, but not completely, died down.

Pull small bulblets from base of bulb. Hybrid tulips are usually unsuitable for dividing.

Lilium

Divide lilies late summer, as foliage dies back and when overcrowded.

Clusters of bulblets are difficult to divide individually, so separate foliage clumps.

Narcissus

Best time to divide dafodills is late spring, after the foliage has almost, but not completely, died down.

Scoop out base, insert bulb upside-down in damp sand in warm place and bulbils will form.

Crocus

Divide in spring, as soon as foliage starts to die down.

Dig up and divide every few years as the blooms decrease in number and size.

Allium

Divide early autumn, after the foliage is almost dead.

Bulblets form rapidly on mature bulbs, so space well apart to give room to grow.

Hyacinthus

Divide in spring, after foliage is almost, but not completely gone.

Cutting bulbs causes it to grow bulblets at its base. Divide only overcrowded plants.

Galanthus

Divide snowdrops early spring, after blooms fade but before the foliage dies. 

Every 4 to 5 years break foliage clumps into 3 or 4 pieces and then replant.

Gladiolus

Early autumn, after plant dies. Store until spring, then divide.

Mature cormlets will almost fall off the gladiolus bulb as you dig up the parent plant.

Scilla

Late summer, after foliage has died back.

Wait until overcrowded and then remove largest bulblets from the parent and replant.

Spring and Summer (Dividing)
Divide summer-flowering bulbs in spring and plant out.
Divide spring-flowering bulbs in summer.

Autumn (preparing for winter)
Remove bulbs and store in cool, dark place in winter.
Divide gladiolus corms and store. Replant in spring.