Planting Daylily Bulbs and More

When, How and Where Can I Plant Daylilies?

The preferred planting seasons are spring and fall, but you can plant daylilies any time the ground is frost free. Plant daylilies so the light green line just above the roots is covered with one to two inches of soil. Space them two to three feet apart. Plant pastel, pink and red daylilies in partial shade most others can stand full sun.

How Can I Use Daylilies in My Landscaping?

Use low-growing varieties and late-flowering in front of the border, as an edging for taller plants, or as pool-side plantings. The medium sized group, which includes the bulk of varieties, can be used in almost any garden situation. They are handsome planted in front of a trellis of morning glories, clematis, or passion vine. Use them as companion plants for lythrum, delphinium, gilia, or other tall plants. And they are at their best planted near evergreens or holly. The taller varieties make splendid background material, a screen for service areas, or foundation plantings near a wall or fence.

How Often Should Daylilies be Watered and Fertilized?

Daylilies can stand more drought than many other perennials. Given enough moisture to keep the soil barely moist, they will respond with luxuriant growth and a good flower crop. Fertilize them twice a year, in the spring before blooming, and again after they have finished flowering.

What Pests Bother Daylilies?

If the weather is exceedingly dry, daylilies may be bothered with thrips and red spider. Eradicate thrips with a product such as Malathion we also like natural Neem oil.

When Can I Divide My Daylilies?

Daylilies are prettiest when grown as specimen clumps. Unless you wish to propagate a rare or expensive type, do not divide daylilies until they are about five years old. Then dig the entire clump and make the divisions with a sharp spade. Replant, spacing them as suggested for establishing newly purchased clumps.

Are Daylilies Hardy?

In our area the dormant varieties are hardy and with covering the semi-evergreens winter fairly well. Foliage on the evergreens stays green the year around. They are splendid for Southern gardens.

Are All Daylilies Single-Petaled Flowers?

No. A number of the new varieties produce double or semi-double flowers.

What Plants can I Use as Companion Plants for Daylilies?

Since daylilies come in such a wide range of colors - cream through all shades of yellow, orange, cinnamon, pastel pink, red and purple, you can use them as companion plants for any annuals or perennials. Blue platycodon (balloon flower), Blue morning glories, clematis, lavender, pink and red phlox, Canterbury bells, Shasta daisies, Gilia rubra, and lythrum are but a few of the plants to grow with your daylilies.

When Do Daylilies Bloom?

Some varieties such as low-growing yellow flowered variety in early spring but the bulk of daylilies blooms in June and July with a few blooming later in the season. Southern gardeners often get two crops of bloom from their daylilies.

ls it Possible to Grow Daylilies from Seeds?

Yes. Planted and cared for as any other seed-grown perennial they produce flowers in about three years. You can purchase seeds from dealers or you can make your daylilies produce seed by removing some of the pollen (yellow dust on the anthers) and placing it on the stigma of another daylily. The seed ripens in about six weeks.

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