How to Plant and Grow Daylilies

Daylilies are among the most carefree and easy-to-grow perennials, and are very tolerant of a wide range of conditions. However, let's give them the best growing conditions possible

Where to Plant

Sun: Daylilies love full sun, but will tolerate part-shade conditions. Make sure they get at least 6 hours of direct sun a day. Many darker coloured varieties will benefit from partial shade in the hottest part of the day. Soils: Daylilies will grow in a wide range of soils, from sand to heavy clay, and in a wide range of soil pHs. However clay soils can be improved by the addition of compost, humus, or sand to make it more friable. Sandy soil will benefit from the addition of compost or humus to increase water retention.

When and How to Plant

Spring or fall planting is recommended, especially in hot areas. Spring planting should be carried out after the ground has thawed and danger of hard frost has passed. Fall planting should be carried out several weeks before freezing weather. Preparing for your new daylilies: Work your ground in advance, incorporating organic material such as compost or well-rotted manure. Spacing: small flower & miniatures: 16" to 24"; large flowers: 18" to 30"; for a closed bed or border: 12" to 18". Some varieties increase very rapidly and will become crowded over time. If you notice a decrease in blooms because of crowding, you should divide your daylilies.

Caring For Your Daylilies

Water: Water in sufficient quantity is essential to get many large blooms, most of all in spring, when plants are making scapes and buds, and in summer during bloom season. Daylilies can withstand drought conditions, but you will notice decreased numbers of blooms and smaller bloom sizes.

Fertilizer: In general, daylilies are not picky about their fertilizer, and for most home gardeners a complete balanced fertilizer such as 6-12-12 or 10-10-10 will do fine. Wait until your newly planted daylilies are established, two to three weeks, before you fertilize them. Then a single application in the spring is sufficient for most gardens, although it is possible to fertilize again in the late summer or early fall.

Mulch: Mulching can be beneficial to your daylilies in several ways: it helps to improve soil through the addition of organic material, to retain moisture, and to discourage weeds. There are many mulching materials you can use: compost, barks, wood chips, straw and pine needles are just some of them.

Grooming: Many daylily growers remove the day's bloom at the end of the day, to give their gardens a neat appearance. The foliage on daylilies often appears somewhat ragged towards the middle to end of the summer. Trimming the foliage to about 6"-10" promotes the growth of fresh new foliage. In winter in cold areas, you can remove the dead foliage, but realize that you are removing the plant's natural cold-insulator and replace it with mulch. Weed Control: Daylilies are good at keeping weeds down once they are established, but until then, mulch is a good weed-control method.

Pests: Luckily, daylilies are not very susceptible to pests; some of the most common pests are aphids, spider mites, thrips and slugs and snails. Treat you daylilies with specific products (consult your local garden centre ).