Daylilies: What They Are and How to Grow Them

Daylilies are vigorous perennials that produce beautiful rainbow-colored flowers. It is a good choice for novice gardeners because it is easy to care for, resistant to pests and diseases, highly adaptable and drought tolerant. Choose a sunny planting location and well-draining soil to ensure that your lilies will thrive. Plant these vigorous plants at least 2 feet (61 cm.) apart so they have plenty of room to spread out!

Buying a starter plant that grows in a nursery or has been rooted dividing

Daylilies are difficult to start at home. Visit your local nursery and buy a few starter plants. If you know other gardeners in the process of dividing lilies, ask if they are willing to share their roots with you. Root division is created when multi-stemmed plants are pulled apart to form a single stem.

Daylilies are hardy plants and are often used as ground cover plants. They will spread and form dense mats after a few seasons.

Choose a site that receives at least 6 hours of sun per day

Daylilies like full sun, although they tolerate partial shade. For the most blooms, choose a location that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. However, lilies can handle 8 to 12 hours of sunlight every day. Daylilies that are planted in the shade do not bloom often.

Choose an area with well-draining soil. Daylilies are hardy and can tolerate almost any soil type. But will grow well in well-drained soil. To test soil drainage, dig a hole 1 ft. (30 cm.) wide and 1 ft. (30 cm.) deep. Fill the hole with water. If the water drains in 10 minutes or less, you have well-drained soil. If it lasts an hour or more, your soil's drainage isn't good. To amend poorly draining soil, add organic matter such as manure, wood chips, gravel, or peat moss. Mix thoroughly into existing soil. When you want to learn the latest information about fertilizer for daylilies, you have to sneak a peek at Gardenerwiki website.

Test the soil for a pH between 6 and 7

Daylilies prefer slightly acidic soil. Purchase a soil test kit from your local nursery and read the information by following the instructions provided. Anything below 7 is considered acidic. Anything above 7 is considered alkaline.
To reduce soil acidity, add limestone to the garden.
To reduce alkalinity, amend the soil with sulfur, gypsum, or peat moss sphagnum.

Plant Daylilies in early spring or early fall

The best times to plant or divide daylilies are early spring and early fall. If you plant or divide early spring, lilies may not bloom until the next summer. If you transplant in early fall, do so immediately after the summer bloom, at least a month before the first frost.

Daylilies are perennials, which means they go dormant during the winter and come back again in the spring.

Plow the soil and mix well in compost or manure

Use a tiller or shovel to turn the soil to a depth of about 18 inches (46 cm). Remove any rocks and debris you find in the soil. Put a few shovels of compost into the soil and use a tiller or shovel.
The organic matter in compost and manure encourages abundant flowering and helps the soil retain moisture.

Dig a hole 12 feet (370 cm) by 12 feet (370 cm) in tilled soil

The pit must support the roots of division or transplant easily without bending or cramming. Usually 12 ft. (370 cm.) by 12 ft. (370 cm.), but can be adjusted as needed. Use a shovel to dig a hole and place the upside down soil next to the hole.