Stake plants when they are emerging, but be careful not to damage the bulb with the stake. For flowers that face one direction, use the stake to orient the face to the front of the bed. When flowers fade, cut them off to prevent seed formation. Seeds take stored food from the bulbs. If leaving bulbs in place for bloom next year, do not cut the leaves after flowering until they start to wither.
Green leaves produce food for plant growth next year.
After leaves turn yellow, cut and destroy the stems and foliage of the plants. Dead foliage left on the ground may carry disease to new growth the next year. If moving bulbs from one place to another, or if a planting has become crowded and ceased blooming, move only after the foliage has faded. Bulbs dug and moved before foliage fades are useless. Digging and Storing.