How to Grow Daylilies

Daylilies are tough, resilient plants with blooms to match every garden palette

Daylilies are hard to kill, which makes them popular with beginning gardeners and old hands alike. While there are 'best practices' to follow when caring for Daylilies, it takes a lot of effort to do wrong by these vigorous and productive flowers.

You can move them when you want, forget to feed and water, and site them incorrectly without risking total failure. But if you follow the instructions below, you should have the best-looking Daylilies on the block!

When and Where to Plant Daylilies

Light: Daylilies do best where they will receive six or more hours of sun each day. Some afternoon shade is beneficial in very hot climates. While they will tolerate partial shade, you should expect fewer flowers.

Soil: Daylilies thrive in good garden soil. Before planting, loosen the soil to a depth of eighteen inches and remove any rocks or debris. If your soil is sandy and dries out easily, add some compost to help it retain moisture. And if your soil is heavy clay, the addition of compost will lighten its texture, making it easier for the roots of your new daylilies to enlarge and grow.

Spacing: Daylilies will eventually expand to form large clumps up to three feet in diameter. So, by spacing your new plants two feet or more apart initially, you can avoid having to dig and move them as they grow in. However, if you want added impact in the early years, space your new plants about 18” apart. Then after a few years you can move some of the plants outwards.

Planting Times: Plant your daylilies either in early spring or in early fall (at least one month before you expect a hard frost).

Planting: For each plant, loosen the soil to a diameter of two feet, dig a hole about one foot deep, and then mound the soil up in the center.

• Place the crown of the plant on the center of the mound, with the bulbous roots angled outwards and slightly downwards.
• Gradually add soil around the roots, tamping it gently as you go to eliminate air pockets.
• When the hole is two-thirds full, water everything thoroughly, and again when it is filled with soil.
• After planting the crown should be no more than an inch below the soil surface.

Daylilies: End of Season Care

Cutting Back: Cut off all the leaves about two inches above the base of the plant (together with any remaining scapes) each fall. The remainder of the old leaves will protect the crown of the plant during the winter.

If you anticipate very cold winters daylilies will benefit from a light straw mulch, which can be removed in the spring.

Dividing and Transplanting: If plants were initially spaced for maturity they will rarely need dividing. But if your plants are starting to grow into one another, or you want to expand your daylily collection, you can lift and divide them in the fall. It is helpful to start by soaking each root clump for a couple of hours, which removes most of the soil and makes it easier to separate the roots without damaging them.

Now sink a pair of garden forks, back-to-back, into the root mass. Press the forks against each other using a back-and-forth motion until the roots separate naturally. Before replanting, check your daylily roots to ensure they are free of any weed roots.