Hi wynswrld98,

I certainly do not agree with what was said and I have never had frost heave on any bulbs. I have however had frost heave on numerous things (irises, small perennials, etc) planted too late in the season to get their roots established, thus anchored in the ground.

The main reason why tulips do not reliably return and bloom the second season, is that they are not actually perennial tulips. There is a big difference in tulips and the Darwin Hybrids have been bred to be much more perennial, and thus will return for successive seasons.

There could be numerous reasons why your daffs no longer bloom, but my guess is that they have multiplied, and the bulbs have grown smaller, because of dividing, and they just need dug and replanted with the proper spacing.
Daffodils planted a little deeper than the suggested depth, will not multiple as quickly as those planted at the suggested depth. Likewise, daffodil bulbs planted more shallowly than suggested, will multiply in number more quickly than if they were planted at the suggested depth.

If I were to plant daffs or tulips 12" deep here in my clay soil, chances are that they would never be able to have the strength to emerge and see the light of day, much less have enough energy to put forth a bloom.

Below are some links to some suggested reading.

Why Perennial Tulips are Better

Daffodils Not Blooming?

Sue...chemocurl

Sue is correct on why most tulips tend not to return year after year. And it has nothing to do with frost heave! BTW, frost heave in the Puget Sound area is non-existent anyway. Our soil never freezes to any significant degree - only an inch or two at most and that after a prolonged below freezing period, which are pretty uncommon here.

While Ciscoe is a dynamic TV and radio personality, he is not the be-all and end-all of gardening advice by any means and he often gives out very questionable information. Take what he says with a large grain of salt!! One of the most important concepts behind the perennializing of spring flowering bulbs is that they prefer to stay dry through the summer months. If they are planted in areas with other plants that get normal, frequent summer irrigation they are not as likely to return reliably. And make sure the area has very good drainage - anything that tends to absorb or hold moisture through the bulb's dormant period (summer into early fall) can lead to rot.

FWIW, the recommended planting depth for most bulbs is 3 times the bulb diameter. I've yet to see a tulip bulb that measured 4 inches across!!

Sounds like you already have enough good advice..... I just couldn't help but chime in on how annoying I think Ciscoe Morris is. I didn't realize he had his own show, I've only seen him as a guest on gardening by the yard.

Tulips aren't a big thing here in the subtropical desert, but now I'm left with a question: if tulips aren't bred to be perennial, how do they get them to multiply and grow to blooming size in the Netherlands?
By the way, the Darwin Hybrids do do better than most tulips here, also.