How do you amend soil in a 2-yr old perennial garden?

s_angel

I planted a p-garden last summer, it did ok. But my daffodils refuse to bloom this year. I think I am going to send my soil in for a test, guessing it needs something. But how do I mix compost/peat/loam whatever into my bed that is still covered nicely with last year's mulch and already has growth starting on some of my plants?

FoxinFiji

In an existing bed I usually just dig extra big holes when I plant new things and mix in half compost with half existing soil.  If you want to do the whole bed you could wait until the foliage dies back, brush the mulch to one corner of the bed, add a layer of compost, and re-mulch.

Non-blooming daffodils doesn't necessarily mean the soil it bad.  They might not be getting enough sun or the previous years foliage was eaten/cut off too early to produce blooms (this years blooms are made with last years energy reserves).

~NB~

Unless you're mulching with rock salt and asphalt, there is almost no chance that you need to amend your soil. I would be surprised if your test comes back as far off normal.

krisandgrace

You can still rake off your mulch and add a layer of compost then put the mulch back on top of that. The rain will wash some of the nutrients from the compost to the roots of your plants.

I do agree that the daffodils not doing well probably doesn't have to do with your soil, I have seen them grow practically out of gravel but your other plants may benefit from adding some organic material and it will help retain moisture. 

Trishluna

Try roughing up the soil and sprinkle bone meal around them. This is great for rhizomes as well. 

For bulbs, you must clip the stem at the bottom of the bloom after flower is finished so that the stem does not drain energy from bulbs.

WendyGR

Trishluna:

Try roughing up the soil and sprinkle bone meal around them. This is great for rhizomes as well. 

For bulbs, you must clip the stem at the bottom of the bloom after flower is finished so that the stem does not drain energy from bulbs.

good to know! I've been meaning to look that up. My daffodils are done and I've always wondered if I should leave them or clip them. 

GRsweetpea

Trishluna:

For bulbs, you must clip the stem at the bottom of the bloom after flower is finished so that the stem does not drain energy from bulbs.

I've never heard that.  Interesting.

I know, like Fiji said, you need to leave the leaves until they die away, so the bulb gains energy for next year.