Polk County Master Gardeners
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Daylilies
If you’re looking for the greatest return for the least investment of
labor and money, daylilies may well be the answer. These prolific bloomers come
in a wide range of colors, in heights from 1 to 3 feet, in flowers from 3” to
8”. You will find them brightening swatches of grass as well as adorning ditches
where they’ve apparently migrated on their own. The name comes from their habit
of opening many new flowers each morning that last only one day. Fortunately,
the next morning will have another batch of buds opening.
They do have a few requirements: at least six hours of sun and well-drained
soil. Otherwise, they’ll tolerate clay or sand, fertile or poor soil, and a good
measure of neglect. Of course, if you will give them just a little TLC, they’ll
repay the effort many-fold.
Daylilies will multiply, and you will need to divide them about every three
years to keep them blooming well. Use a spading fork to dig them up either in
April or in September to mid-October. Break or cut them apart so that there is
about an equal amount of root for each fan of leaves. Trim both the foliage and
roots to about 6” to 8”. Replant them with the crown (the place where all the
roots come together) about 1” deep in soil. Single plants should be set about
12” apart, or you can plant clumps of 2 to 3 plants 18” to 24” apart. If you
plant them in the fall, be sure to mulch them heavily the first winter to
protect them while they’re developing roots in their new home.
If you’re not sure about the drainage in the spot where you’d like to put
them, dig a hole about 12” deep and fill it with water. If the water does not
drain away within 12 hours, either find another place to put them or create a
raised bed.
Once you have them in place, stand back and enjoy them for two or three
years. Then you will have to decide whether to make room for more daylilies or
become a hero when you give away the extra plants.
If you’d like more information, a web site at
www.ofts.com/bil/culture has a lot of useful stuff.
By Barbara M. Tobias
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