Daylily Care

Where is the best place to plant daylilies?

We recommend that you consider the following things in order to determine the optimal location to plant your daylilies:

(Trust us, it's worth a couple minutes of pre-planning for the location.)

Sun or Shade
Most daylilies do best in full sun. A daylily will tolerate part-shade conditions, but require a minimum of six hours of direct sun on a daily basis for the flowers to bloom well.  Light yellow cultivars, many shades of pink, and delicate pastels need full sun to bring out their colors optimally.

Darker flowers (reds, purples) will benefit from partial shade during the hottest part of the day since dark colors absorb heat and will not withstand the sun as well as lighter colors. Darker colors may fade as the day goes on if not shaded.

Drainage
Daylilies should be planted in a well-draining soil. They do not like “wet feet”. Raised beds are usually beneficial where drainage is a problem. However raised beds should be approached with caution in cold weather regions as the plants become more vulnerable to temperature extremes and fluctuations. Note also that raised beds generally require more irrigation during the summer. 

Planting Instructions
Plant your new daylilies 1 to 3 feet apart, depending on the variety and how fast you want your space to fill in. Prepare the garden soil by loosening the soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches, then mix in a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost. Dig a hole twice the diameter of the root mass (see photo 1). Make a mound in the center of the hole. We recommend adding a handful of compost and a small handfull of alfalfa pellets (see photo 2). 

Set the plant in place with the roots spread out on all sides of the mound (see photo 3). New plants should be planted about as deep as they were grown originally (see photo 4). In 8-10 days your new daylily fans will begin to "green up" and show growth in the middle of the plant. The original depth can be determined easily by the band of white at the base of the foliage which indicates the part of the plant which was underground. Do not set the crown (i.e., the point where foliage and roots join) more than 1” inch below the surface of the soil. Work the soil around and between the roots as you cover the plant. Make sure that there are no air pockets; this can cause the plant to grow poorly. Finish filling in the soil, leaving a slight depression around the plant. Water thoroughly.

 

          

             Photo 1                         Photo 2                         Photo 3                         Photo 4

 

Maintenance
Apply a thin layer of compost each spring, followed by a 2-inch layer of mulch to retain moisture and control weeds. Avoid over fertilizing as this will slow flower production.  Remove each spent flower daily and cut back flower stalks once the plant is done producing flowers to keep a neat appearance. Divide larger clumps every three to four years as new growth begins in the spring, by lifting plants and dividing them into smaller clumps.

Water 

Water plants as needed. Daylilies like to have 1" of water per week.  

Don't worry if you forget a couple days.

Healthy Living Soil

Though daylilies are tough plants, we continually load our soil with compost and alfalfa pellets to provide you with the best plants possible.  Good soil and consistant watering produces large healthy plants.  Healthy soil is filled with high organic matter content, microorganisms, earthworms and humus. The soil should hold sufficient moisture to sustain the plants, and at the same time be well-drained. Chemical fertilizers are easy to apply and for the most part cheaper but only provide short term gains.  They will ultimetly kill your soil over time.