Planting Daylilies
by Diane Linsley
Daylilies should be planted as soon as they
arrive. Because the roots dry out during
shipping, they should be soaked in a bucket
of water for 1-4 hours before planting.
Dig the hole a little larger than the size of
the daylily roots. Mix about one shovelful
of compost or well-composted manure into the soil that you remove from the hole. Or use a small amount of organic fertilizer, according to the instructions on the label.
Make a small mound of soil in the bottom of the hole, and set the daylily on top, spreading out the roots. Be careful when handling daylily roots, which are brittle and easily broken. Situate the daylily so the crown is 1-2 inches below ground level after the roots are buried. The crown is the part where the leaves connect to the roots.
Backfill the hole with the amended soil, and water well. Newly planted daylilies must be kept constantly moist until they are established. Adding a thin layer of organic mulch will help keep the soil moist and cool.
Daylilies that are planted in the spring will frequently bloom the same year, but they will be more impressive the following year. Fall planting is also recommended because it gives the daylilies a chance to establish roots before they bloom the following summer. Daylilies may be planted in the summer, but they will suffer from the heat, and you’ll have to be diligent about keeping them watered. Once they are established, daylilies are long-lived, low-maintenance perennials that will bring you many years of enjoyment.
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