Well-established day lily clumps can produce as many as 400 flowers in a single season. Day lily plants can produce blooms for 30 to 40 days through late summer. Using repeat bloomers and planting several cultivars can add beautiful color spring through summer. For the best quality flowers, day lilies should be grown in full sun, however, there are some varieties that do well in light to medium shade. Consult your landscape professional to find the right variety for your situation.
Day lilies require regular garden water and should be fertilized on a regular basis. It is best not to plant them too close to trees and shrubs that will compete with them for nutrients and water. Although day lilies can tolerate drought, they perform best when they receive a deep watering of an inch of water or more each week. More frequent watering may be necessary if they are planted in sandy soils.
Day lilies grow best in slightly acidic, well-drained soil, high in organic content. A ph of 6 to 6.5 works well. Amend the soil with lots of rich organic matter and your plants will flourish. In spring, an application of compost is just what the plant doctor ordered. To help the plants through the colder winter months a low nitrogen fertilizer should be applied in the late summer or early fall.
Grooming your day lily plants will keep them looking good all season. Remove the seed capsules after the bloom has faded, which will prevent seed production. Seed production can weaken your plant and will decrease the number of blooms next year.
Day lily plants should be divided every three to four years. The best time to transplant or divide plants is early spring, and they can be divided right after they finish flowering. In warm zones they can be divided in the fall. Using a garden fork or shovel dig the entire plant up and rinse off the excess soil. Gently pull the leaf fans apart by working the roots apart with you hands. Make sure that each division has a minimum of three fans. Trim long roots and foliage on divided fans to about six inches. Replant your day lilies and get ready to enjoy the color.
Notes: Newly divided plants may not flower the first summer. Cutting the clump with a shovel can damage the crown. Day lily plants are poisonous to cats.
Julie Molinare is a Certified Landscape Designer living in the Santa Clarita for over 12 years. Julie teaches the Introduction to Landscape Design Class at CSUN – Tseng College of Extended Learning and is Owner/Designer of The Grass Is Always Greener Designs.
For more information, please call 661-917-3521 and visit www.thegrassisalwaysgreener.net .