Care Of Daylilies Plants

Daylilies Planting Tips and Care

From Central Europe and the Orient, the daylilies have made a name for themselves by making an impact on many garden and landscape designs, there are believed to be more than 2500 hybrids to choose from so from these numbers there is no shortage which can give that WOW. Daylilies bloom in late spring and summer depending on your zone.

The daylilies look great planted in masses, the ideal time to plant daylilies is in early spring and the fall months. The daylilies will brighten up your world creating a pleasing effect that is so inviting, these flowering plants are so amazing and is enjoyed by many in the home garden. Let’s take a closer look at the daylily and how they can fit into your garden and landscapes.

Planting Location

When installing daylilies look for an area that gets 6 hours of sunlight.

Soil Type

The daylilies are not fussy and will thrive in a wide range of soil, when working with clay soil the use of compost, peat moss or sand will help with soil improvements.

Watering Methods

Daylilies are drought-tolerant but need moderate water to keep them growing their best.

Fertilizing Methods

The use of a liquid feed or slow-release fertilizer such as triple ten will work wonders for your daylilies. A light application will do or follow the direction on the manufacture’s label but before fertilizing your daylilies it is good to have a soil ph test done for best results also avoid fertilizers that have high nitrogen content.

Garden insect pests of daylilies

Here are a few garden pests to keep a watch out for.

• Aphids
• Thrips
• Spider Mites
• Tarnish plant bugs
• Cucumber Beetles
• Japanese Beetles
• Cutworms
• Grasshoppers

Sucking insects will suck the plant’s fluids weakening your plant also causing yellowing of the leaves followed by defoliation ( leaf drop ). Sucking insect also encourages sooty mold which can really cause garden plants to take on a sickly appearance.

The use of insecticidal soap or neem oil will bring these garden pests under control. Before using pesticides read and follow the manufacture’s label. Introducing beneficial insects into your garden is a natural and safe method ( biological control ) that will also bring garden insect pests under control.

Slugs and Snails

• Slugs
• Snails

Slugs and Snails cause damage by eating the plant parts which can make a plant look sickly and unattractive, slugs and snails can be controlled either by handpicking them and throwing them into a bucket of soap and water or by baiting ( Snail bait).

Chewing Insects

• Tarnish plant bugs
• Cucumber Beetles
• Japanese Beetles
• Cutworms
• Grasshoppers

For the control of these chewing garden pest the use of Tempo® Ready-to-Use
Insecticides will give good results. Before treating read and follow the manufacture’s label also keep chemicals in a safe place out of the reach of children and pets.

Disease of daylilies

Keep an eye out for these diseases.

• Rust
• White Mold
• Bacterial Leaf Spot
• Leaf Streak
• Rhizoctonia Crown Rot

Rust

Rust is caused by a fungus, signs or symptoms that show up as bright orange-yellow streaks on the topside of the leaves and bright spores on the leaves undersides, the use of a fungicide along with good cultural practice will bring this disease under control.

When first signs show up treat right away because this disease spreads rapidly. Prune and discard leaves that are infected. Before purchasing fungicides read the manufacturer’s label for listed disease and how to treat for best results.

White Mold

White mold shows up as a white cottony growth that covers the soil are around plants also the plant’s crown. This fungus is difficult to control because it remains dormant in the soil for a few years. White mold disease can be avoided by controlling the high moisture level.

Soils that are infected along with plants should be removed and discarded, Purchasing daylilies species that are immune to this disease will help.

Bacterial Leaf Spot

The bacteria which cause this disease enters through the plant wound, moist conditions encourage this disease which spreads rapidly. Signs of bacterial leaf spot shows up as foul odor along with plant tissues which are mushy and soft.

Daylilies that are severely infected should be removed and discarded. If the infection is not that server and part of the plant is damaged then remove that section or portion, allow the area where you made the cut to dry, and install the plant in good healthy soil that has good drainage.

Leaf Streak

Leaf streak is caused by a fungus that appears as a dark green spot which is soggy that appears on the plant’s leaves. As the disease progress, the leaves take on a yellow appearance then turn red-brown, which leaves a streaking pattern down the center of the leaves.

Control measures involve cutting back the foliage ( leaves ) during the winter months in order to keep spores from overwintering, the removal of infected leaves during the growing season is a must. When giving your daylilies a drink always water at the soil level or from the base.

Rhizoctonia Crown Rot

Rhizoctonia crown rot is caused by continual wet conditions along with soil that has poor drainage. A dark fuzzy fungal growth will appear at the soil surface as the plant’s crown rots. Relocating your daylilies to the soil that has good drainage will cause the plant’s health to improve.

Deadheading your daylilies

Look for flower bloom that is spent or old and remove with a pruner, the purpose of deadheading spent flowers is so that the spent flowers would not produce seeds but rather your daylilies will spend its energy in producing more blossom.

If you don’t deadhead your daylilies you will end up with plant material and not much flower bloom.

Planting Locations

Here are a few places to install your daylilies

1. Daylilies look great installed near a pond.

2. Install them along a garden walking pathway.

3. Plant some in masses alongside your patio.

4. Install daylilies alongside a fence.

5. What about alongside a wall?

6. Incorporate them into your garden plant design.

7. Install the daylilies in containers and place the containers on your porch or patio.

8. Plant daylilies in masses around your tree truck provided sufficient sunlight can get to them.

Mulching your daylilies

The use of mulches has so many benefits, some of these benefits include conserving water, keeping the soil temperature cool, suppressing weeds, beautification, and adding nutrients to the soil as it decomposes.

Container grown daylilies

A good way to grow daylilies is with the help of containers, this method is known as container gardening. When installing daylilies in containers ensure that the container has drain holes to allow excess water to find a way to drain because if water can not drain will lead to root rot.

The potting medium should be a rich soilless potting mix, place the container in an area that gets 6 hours of sunlight. Water, fertilize and treat for garden insect pests and disease as stated above.

Installing daylilies indoors

When growing daylilies indoors requires that you give them your utmost attention, containers should have drain holes to allow water to drain. A  few small stones or river rocks to be placed inside of the container and at the bottom will also help with drainage.

Next, add your potting mix to the container, half the potting mix then add your bulbs with the rooting end pointing down and resting on the soil’s surface. Continue to fill the container with a potting mix until the bulb is completely covered.

The potting mix should be moist, not waterlogged to avoid rot, the soil should not be allowed to dry out. The use of a diluted balanced fertilizer once a week is sufficient. Fertilizers which has high nitrogen content should be avoided.

Ensure that your daylilies are getting about 6 hours of sunlight, installing grow lights if needed will help greatly. Rotating your daylily every now and again will ensure that the entire plant is getting the right about of light.

Remove dead flowers and leaves, once the leaves turn yellow and die this is a good time to trim or prune to the soil level. Your bulbs can be removed outdoors and planted or stored in a cool dark place.

Some species of daylilies

1. Long Daylily.

2. Amur Daylily.

3. Orange Daylily.

4. Small Daylily.

5. Farnsworth Spider.

6. Golden Diamond.

7. Hall’s Pink.

8. Jersey Spider.

9. Lacy Queen.

10. Live wire beauty.

The final word

The daylily is an amazing plant to install in your home garden or in the interior, these garden beauties can brighten up your world bringing that much-needed flavor so if you are interested in the care and growth of daylilies then follow these methods for success and join the many homeowners which are enjoying the beauty these plants bring.

About the author

Norman

+ posts

Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.

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