Growing Daylilies: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners
Daylilies are beautiful and easy-to-grow flowers that are a great addition to any garden. With over 35,000 varieties to choose from, there’s a daylily for every taste and garden style.
Planting Daylilies
The best time to plant daylilies is in early spring or early fall. Choose a site that receives at least six hours of sun per day. Daylilies are adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions, but they prefer slightly acidic soil that is well-drained.
To plant a daylily, dig a hole that is twice as wide and deep as the root ball. Place the daylily in the hole and spread the roots out. The crown of the daylily (where the roots meet the stem) should be about 1 inch below the soil surface. Fill the hole with soil and water well.
Caring for Daylilies
Daylilies are relatively low-maintenance plants, but there are a few things you can do to keep them healthy and blooming their best.
- Water: Daylilies need about 1 inch of water per week. Water more frequently during hot, dry weather.
- Fertilize: Fertilize daylilies in the spring and during bloom with a balanced fertilizer.
- Deadhead: Remove spent blooms to encourage more flowers.
- Divide: Daylilies can be divided every three to four years to keep them healthy and blooming their best.
Daylily Varieties
There are thousands of daylily varieties to choose from, each with its own unique characteristics. Some popular varieties include:
- Stella d’Oro: A compact variety with bright yellow flowers
- Pardon Me: A tall variety with large, pink flowers
- Frans Hals: A unique variety with ruffled, red flowers
- Hyperion: A tall variety with large, orange flowers
- Chicago Apache: A compact variety with dark red flowers
Daylilies in the Landscape
Daylilies are versatile plants that can be used in a variety of ways in the landscape. They can be planted as single specimens, in groups, or as a ground cover. Daylilies also make great cut flowers.
Troubleshooting
Daylilies are generally disease- and pest-resistant, but they can occasionally be affected by problems such as aphids, thrips, and spider mites. These problems can usually be controlled with insecticidal soap or neem oil.
If you’re having trouble growing daylilies, here are a few tips:
- Make sure your daylilies are getting enough sun. Daylilies need at least six hours of sun per day to bloom their best.
- Water your daylilies regularly. Daylilies need about 1 inch of water per week.
- Fertilize your daylilies regularly. Fertilize daylilies in the spring and during bloom with a balanced fertilizer.
- Deadhead your daylilies. Remove spent blooms to encourage more flowers.
- Divide your daylilies every three to four years. Dividing daylilies helps to keep them healthy and blooming their best.
With a little care and attention, daylilies will thrive in your garden for years to come.
