Susan Ruoff

Bachman, 2009

30.0"x 6.5"

Mid, Dor, Tet

StartlexKlaatu Barada Nikto

Although early spring or early fall are the best time for planting daylilies, you can plant them anytime, as long as you can dig the hole. If your soil is sandy or heavy clay, you can amend it with organic matter.

Choose a planting site where your growing daylilies will receive at least 6 hours of sun. Morning sun is best. Harsh afternoon sun can scorch the leaves, but any kind of sun will do. Daylilies will grow in part-shade but may have fewer blooms.

Dig a hole wide enough for the roots to be spread out. Plant several fans of the same variety in the same hole, aprox. 8 inches apart. The crown of the plant (where roots and leaves meet) should be buried about 1 inch deep. Fill in soil, lightly packing it down around the plant. Water until the soil is well saturated. Water once or twice a week until established.

Space different varieties of daylilies 18-24 inches apart.

Daylilies require little to no care and can even survive with neglect but if you want these flowers to thrive and perform at their best, here are some suggestions.

Water newly planted daylilies once a week until established. Daylilies are fairly hardy and drought tolerant so they can survive without being watered, once they are estalished. However, they prefer about an inch of water per week. If you have adequet rainfall, it will supply much of that amount. If you live in a drier climate or where there are periods of drought, water them more often. They will reward you with more blooms. Add mulch around plants to keep them moist and to help minimize weeding. Daylilies do not require fertilization as long as the soil is reasonably fertile. However, you can encourage stronger bloom performance by using some all purpose fertilizer (10-10-10), once a year in early spring as new daylily top grow emerges. Spread a handful at the base of each daylily clump and water if dry. You can fertilize daylilies a second time after they are finished blooming to help your plants multiply faster in the future. Deadheading is encouraged but not required. Remove spent blooms to prevent seed production and encourage more blooming. They can be snapped off fairly easily, by hand. Once all of the flowers have blossomed on a daylily scape, you can cut the entire scape back to the ground right away, in the fall or not at all.  If you do not cut it back, it will simply turn brown and remain standing until you pull it out. You will want to remove the dead foliage from the previous year’s growth before new growth resumes in the spring to help prevent disease. Daylilies need to be divided after 3-5 years.