Where to plant
Daylilies should be planted in full sun or partial shade that receives
at least 6 hours of sun per day. Despite the preference of full
sun, occasionally colorful Daylily blooms can be found under the
constant shade of tall trees. Wherever some shade is present, the
Daylily flowers will face away from it toward open sky. Avoid low
wet spots where water collects in rainy spells, and high dry spots
over ledges where the soil is shallow.
When to Plant
Daylilies can be planted very successfully at any time the ground
can be worked --- spring, summer or fall. Fall planted Daylilies
should be mulched to prevent winter frost heaving.
Soil
Loose loamy soil is preferred. Sand, gravel and clay are very poor.
Mediocre soils will be improved by adding compost, rotted leaves
or wood chips, old manure, or almost any other organic material.
Spacing
In a mixed perennial flower border allow a circle of 16-18 inches
in diameter if the Daylily will be divided and replanted in 3-5
years. If you expect to leave the Daylily clump intact for 10-15
years, it will need a 24-30 inch space. The same applies to a Daylily
flower border. In a landscape setting, such as a bank to be covered
with Daylilies, space the Daylily plants in a triangular pattern
with each plant 24 inches from its neighbors. 100 square feet of
bank will then require 30 Daylily plants. (Multiply square footage
by 0.304.) As an edging along a walk, space the Daylily plants 12-18
inches apart in a single line.
Mulch
One to four inches of mulch will retain soil moisture and inhibit
weed growth among the Daylily plants. Leaves, hay, woodchips and
grass clippings are suitable, but they withdraw some of the soil
nitrogen during their own slow decomposition. You may wish to add
some fertilizer, especially with freshly cut woodchips. Where the
ground normally freezes in winter, fall-planted Daylilies should
be mulched heavily the first year to prevent them from being heaved
out of the ground.
Fertilizer
An organic compost soil is seldom deficient in plant nutrients.
To maintain excellent Daylily growth, add any slow release, composted
organic matter such as horse, sheep, or cow manure, or your own
compost, in either spring or fall.
Dividing
Daylily plants can be divided and replanted in 3 - 5 years, or it
may not be necessary at all, depending upon the spacing of the plants.
Water
For best performance, Daylilies like a lot of rain, or evening watering,
just before and during flowering. Flowers will be larger and more
numerous, prolonging the Daylily bloom season.
