I pull the heads off mines as soon as the flowers go over then leave them for a good few weeks to die back. I cut mine down to about 2 inches above the soil a few weeks ago. I wait until when i gently but firmly pull the leaf it comes out cleanly, without it feeling that i am pulling the bulb up. I just check them every few days - give them a wee pull and then bin if they are ready. However, I have found the slugs find them a cozy home...found quite a few on tonights arisings!!

The general advice is to dead-head after they've flowered, then leave the leaves and stems for at least 6 weeks so that the nutrients build up the bulbs for the following year. Also feed them at that stage. Then when the leaves and stems are going brown, you can pull them off easily. Mine are just about ready to be removed.

Thanks spritz, I never fed mine :$ hope ive not done too much damage as had a great display this year! X

Don't worry - some of mine have never been fed and they come back up each year! ;-z

Council-planted daffs don't get fed do they? They always seem to give a jolly good show on a bank near where I live, whereas mine which are fed every year are variable. Is it the quality of the bulbs? Or perhaps such dense planting ensures a good display?

Maybe the Council replaces some? No idea.