Hyacinths

Q. A friend gave me a dozen or so Hyacinths and I don't know whether to cut off the dead tops as daffodils or to let them go. They were so pretty I hate to mess the system up.

A. There are two major garden varieties. The small grape Hyacinths will die back of their own accord as do crocuses and snow drops. The large single-flowered ones will keep green foliage long after the flower stem has browned and been removed. These leaves should be encouraged to stay green and growing for as long as possible since food is being produced and transferred down into the bulb for next spring's flowers. If the foliage is cut when green the food production ceases and there may not be enough energy for a new flower next year resulting in death or only foliage in the spring. Keep the plants well-watered and fed with a general plant food. Encourage their growth as you would with other spring plants.