Essential Tips for Nourishing Daylilies from a Skilled Horticulturist for Vibrant, Enduring Blossoms This Summer
Cultivating Stunning Daylily Displays: A Guide to Optimal Fertilization
Daylilies, with their vibrant blooms and long-lasting charm, are a favourite among gardeners. To ensure an impressive floral display from your daylilies, a balanced feeding and mulching approach is key.
Fertilizing Daylilies for Optimal Flower Production
For the best results, use a balanced, complete fertilizer with an N-P-K ratio around 10-10-10 or 12-12-12. Apply the fertilizer in early spring, once new growth emerges, to support leaf and root development. Additional feedings every 6-8 weeks during the growing season will promote blooming, but be mindful not to overfertilize, as this can lead to lush foliage at the expense of flowers.
Timing and Amount
Apply the fertilizer lightly into the soil around the daylilies, avoiding direct contact with the crowns or foliage. After fertilizing, water thoroughly to prevent root burn. In general, daylilies require little fertilizer and can get by with moderate feeding, especially if a high-potassium solution is used.
Tips for Success
Daylilies thrive with consistent moisture and benefit from mulching to retain water and moderate temperature. Avoid excessive nitrogen, as it can promote leaf growth at the expense of flowers. To boost flower production in daylilies with more leaves than flowers, consider using an organic tomato fertilizer with a high potassium value, such as 5-5-8.
Mulching and Maintenance
Mulching in the fall or winter with well-rotted compost or leaf mold can improve the quality of daylily soil over time. However, it's best to clear yellow and brown foliage before mulching for easier application. If growing daylilies in pots, a monthly or three-weekly feed during the growing season is recommended.
Varieties and Availability
The variety 'Stella de Oro' is free-flowering, full of charm, and doesn't dominate borders. 'Stella D'Oro' live daylily plants are available to order now via Amazon. It's important to note that the species Hemerocallis fulva is considered invasive in several US states, including Florida and Virginia.
Cautions and Alternatives
Coffee grounds are not recommended for fertilizing daylilies due to their high nitrogen content. Instead, opt for organic tomato fertilizers to avoid products high in nitrogen, which encourage foliage growth at the expense of flowers.
For more information on daylily management, see the guide on how to divide daylilies. Remember, over-fertilizing daylilies is not recommended if they are currently blooming well.
When weeding and feeding daylilies, long gloves can provide protection for your hands. Feeding daylilies just once or twice during the growing season is usually sufficient if they are lacking in flowers. The organic tomato fertilizer from Burpee is suitable for boosting daylily flower production.
Daylilies are highly valued as long-lasting, reliable, and tough perennials. With the right care and feeding, they can provide a stunning floral display for your garden throughout the summer months.
Incorporating a balanced feeding plan and regular mulching can enhance the lifestyle and home-and-garden by producing a more vigorous and attractive display of daylilies. For optimal flower production, use a fertilizer with an N-P-K ratio around 10-10-10 or 12-12-12, and apply it in early spring, concentrating on the soil around the daylilies.
