"If there was ever a perfect garden plant, it would have to be the daylily"
Daylilies have frequently been called the gardener's perfect perennial flower because they are hardy, easy to grow, drought tolerant, and rarely bothered by insects or diseases. Their flowers also come in a full range of colors, shapes, sizes, heights, and bloom seasons. All in all, gardening with Daylilies is easy and very rewarding. Note: for some of you new to Daylilies, the improper spelling is with 2 LL's... daylillies. And, it is one word. Not day lilies or day lily. Everything else about growing Daylilies is easy.
Daylilies grown in containers can be planted in the ground from the early spring to late summer. Loosen roots slightly and plant at the same depth in the ground as they were in the container. Bare-root daylilies should be planted no more than 1" above the crown. Space daylilies about 18" to 24” apart as they will nearly triple in size each year.
Daylilies love sun, full sun if possible, but will tolerate lightly shaded conditions. Remember, sun usually dictates the amount of flowers for all blooming plants, and the amount of flowers during rebloom. A general rule is to make sure your growing plants get at least 6 hours of direct sun a day. Light yellows, pinks and pastels need full sun to bring out their lovely colorings. Purple and red varieties benefit from partial shade in the hottest part of the day as they do not withstand the sun as well as the lighter colors, causing earlier fading of their dark colors.
Daylilies will grow in a wide range of soils, from sand to heavy clay, and in a wide range of soil pHs. There are steps you can take to improve your soil, especially if it is predominantly clay or sand. Ask your local nursery for assistance in soil preparation. Remember, your growing plants will do better in a quality soil and a neutral pH then in a less optimal environment.
As any gardening expert will tell you, the amount of water you use on your perennial plants is crucial. Simply put, water is essential for great performance. In sufficient quantity, water helps ensure that you get as many blooms and as large flowers as possible. But, on the other hand, too much water will cause root rot and in some cases even cause your perennial plants to die. It is most important that daylilies get sufficient water in the spring, when plants are in full growth mode, and in summer when they are blooming. Daylilies can withstand a lot of drought but ultimately, as with any plant, will suffer because of it. 1” a week during the growing season is a good rule of thumb. Slightly more may be needed during the hottest months.
What type of fertilizer to use has been argued since the beginning of the last century. In my experience Daylilies are heavy feeders and like a high nitrogen fertilizer. Using a slow release fertilizer in the early spring when new growth first appears will work wonders for the new growing plant. I use the maximum amounts on the products' instructions. This should be sufficient until the next spring. But, if in your gardening experience you like to fertilize more often than that... Great. Daylilies love any fertilizer they can get.
Daylilies come in all colors, including yellow, close to white, purple, close to green, pink and more. There are no black, perfect white, or blue Daylilies. Yet!
Don't pile heavy mulch directly on top of the plants, or against the base of the plant, as they need to breathe. Winter protection is not normally needed.
We hope you enjoy their majestic beauty as much as we do.
|
