What do I do with my plants/bulbs once they have finished flowering?Updated 8 months ago

This very much depends on the plant type. Some spring and summer-flowering bulbs return year after year, and others are treated as annuals. Those which are hardy and return year after year can be left in the soil. Any which are not perennial, such as most tulips, might not grow again next year. You can lift non-perennial bulbs after they have died back and transfer them to a less prominent position, either straight away or store them over summer and replant elsewhere in autumn. Generally speaking, it is best to deadhead all flowering bulbs once they have finished flowering, but allow the full stem and leaves to turn yellow or die back completely. Whilst green, the leaves and stem are feeding the bulb for next year. 

Some summer-flowering bulbs, like dahlias and begonias, continue to produce flowers throughout the season. Once they stop flowering in late autumn, or after the first frost has made the plants die back, you should cut back the entire plant down to ground level. Frost tender perennial bulbs should at that point be lifted, dried and stored for winter in frost-free conditions. Hardy perennial bulbs can be left in the ground for winter, but should still have their foliage cut back in autumn. 

Our blog post Flower bulbs — a guide to bulb planting and care provides some helpful tips about bulb aftercare.