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How to plant a daylily |
Plant at the appropriate time for your area
- We ship about May 10 through August 31, depending on weather and soil conditions.
- Near the end of the season, allow four to six weeks before the first hard frost.
We recommend planting by mid-August for areas colder than zone 4; by the end of August for most zone 4 areas; and possibly until mid-September for zone 5 and warmer areas, depending on weather.
Unpack immediately upon arrival
- We ship daylilies bare root. As soon as your order arrives, unpack carefully.
- Check the labels to confirm that your order is correct. If there is a problem, please contact us immediately by email at Loon Song Gardens or by phone at 763.422.0015. Be sure to let us know the best way to contact you to resolve any issues.
Soak roots before planting
- Soak the roots in plain water for a few hours or overnight. You may add a small amount of liquid fertilizer to the water, but it is not required.
- If you are unable to plant immediately, you may keep the daylilies in water for few days (immerse the roots but keep the foliage out of the water). Set the container in a cool spot in bright light but out of direct sunlight, and change the water every 2-3 days.
- For holding new plants longer than a few days, you may wish to pot them in containers in a coarse potting mix and fertilize accordingly; or use a holding bed (nursery bed). Transplant from pots at least six weeks before your first hard frost is predicted.
- We clean and trim your daylilies before shipping, so they are ready to plant. If you find that some of the roots were broken during shipping, remove them with a clean shears or a knife before planting. Otherwise, we recommend keeping the roots and foliage in balance to promote re-establishment. Further trimming is not necessary or advisable and is done at your own risk.
Ready, Set, Dig!
- See Growing Tips for information about site selection and preparation.
- Space daylilies at least 18" apart, and plant taller varieties 2-3' apart.
- Dig a planting hole that is somewhat wider and deeper than the root mass. Allow a few inches of extra depth if you plan to add amendments beneath the root mass. In all, your planting hole should be 12"-24" deep.
- Spread a little bone meal or superphosphate in the bottom of the planting hole unless soil tests advise against this. Cover it with a few inches of soil to prevent direct contact with roots.
- At this point, you may want to have a label ready to bury under the plant for identification in case your above-ground marker gets lost.
- Form a cone of soil with the top of the cone even with the surrounding soil. As you place the daylily on the cone, keep the top of the daylily crown close to the same level as the surrounding soil. Do not plant a daylily crown any deeper than 1" below surface of the soil, as this could delay bloom for 2-3 years.
- Spread the roots around the cone of soil and fill the planting hole, gently firming the soil as you add soil.
- Use your hands--not your feet--to avoid overly compacting the soil. After filling the hole with soil, water thoroughly to eliminate air pockets. You may want to create a slight depression around the daylily to help retain water during irrigation.
- Fertilize with a half-cup starter solution, mixed according to the label. Fish emulsion fertilizers work very well with daylilies.
- Top with 2-4" of mulch to preserve moisture and prevent weeds, using shredded bark, wood chips, or other readily available material. Keep the mulch from covering or touching the daylily crown itself, leaving several inches of open ground between crown and mulch.
Daylilies Love Water
- Daylilies thrive with plenty of water. Water newly-planted bare root daylilies once a day for the first few days or when the soil appears dry, much like a container plant. If the weather is cool, or if you have a heavy clay soil, new daylilies may need less frequent watering.
- Taper water as the daylilies establish so that you are watering 1-2 times per week, depending upon rain, air temperature, and your soil. The goal is to keep the garden soil evenly moist but not soggy while the daylilies establish. A light, sandy soil will require more frequent irrigation than a heavier clay type. As daylilies mature, they form water-storing roots and can tolerate short periods of drought.
- Heavy watering during extended periods of high temperatures in mid-summer may lead to crown rot and should be avoided.
Labeling Tips
- Give your daylily a garden marker to keep track of the name, or record the name and location on a garden map. Wooden markers deteriorate quickly, so you will want to use metal or plastic. Several ready-made styles are available from other vendors.
- Loon Song Gardens ships your daylily with a Brother Industrial Strength adhesive label. Cut the label to fit your marker if necessary, then carefully peel off the backing and apply the label to your marker for long-lasting identification. Another suggestion is to bury the label when you plant as a safeguard for future identification.
- When you write on a garden marker, use pencil, paint pen, or china marker for permanence. Do not rely on a permanent marker (even industrial strength) for garden labels, because the ink fades quickly when exposed to sunlight. If you must use a permanent marker, turn the tag away from direct sunlight or cover it with soil to prevent fading.
- For more cultural recommendations see Growing Tips.
You have set the stage for a wonderful show—Enjoy!
