Well-established Day lily clumps can produce as many as 400 flowers in a single season. Day lily plants can produce blooms for 30–40 days between early and late summer. By using repeat bloomers and by planting several different cultivars you can have beautiful color spring through summer. There are literally hundreds of different types of day lilies in many colors and shades, some of them even fragrant.
Things You’ll Need
Shovel or Fork
Gardening Gloves
Garden Shears
For the best quality flowers, day lilies plants should be grown in full sun, There are however some varieties that will do well in light to medium shade. Consult your landscape professional to find the varieties that are right for your situation.
Day lilies require regular garden water and should 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, which has a high organic content. A ph of 6 to 6.5 might works well. Make sure to amend the soil with lots of rich organic matter and your plants will flourish.
In spring an application compost or a good complete fertilizer 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 (year round in the warm weather areas). Remove the seed capsules after the bloom has faded. This step 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 in early spring or they can be divided right after they finish flowering. In warm weather zones they can also 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. If the going gets tough use a tool.
Note: Newly divided plants may not flower the first summer.
Work the roots apart, and if necessary, use a tool. Trim long roots and foliage on divided fans to about 6 inches. Make sure each division has at least three (3) fans. Replant your day lilies and get ready to enjoy the extra color.
Tips & and Warnings:
Cutting the clump with a shovel can damage the crown.
Day Lily plants are poisonous to cats.
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