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The care and feeding of Daylilies
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Hemerocallis or Daylilies
Because of the increased rainfall this summer and the unusually cool weather, the Daylilies of the Bluegrass region have been beautiful. Normally in full bloom until the middle of July, many gardens around the area are still blessed with these gorgeous, happy blossoms.
Daylilies, or Hemerocallis, love full sun, but will tolerate lightly shaded conditions. However, the amount of sun a plant receives will dictate the amount of flowers on the daylilies. Light colored Daylilies - yellows, pinks and pastels - need full sun to bring out the vivid colorings. Purple and red varieties benefit from partial shade in the hottest part of the day as they do not withstand the sun as well as the lighter colors.
Daylilies will grow in a wide range of soils, from sand to heavy clay. Sufficient watering helps ensure you get as many blooms and as large flowers as possible, but make sure the roots are never in standing water - this will cause root rot. Although Daylilies are fairly drought resistant, a long-term drought can greatly diminish bloom production. Heavy mulch is not necessary for Daylilies because the roots are shallow - too much mulch will smoother the roots.
As the name states, Daylilies only bloom for one day. Deadhead old blossoms and remove any seed capsules to prevent seed production which weakens the plant and would decrease the number of flowers next year. If you do end up with seed capsules, these can be germinated to start a new crop of daylilies.
In the Bluegrass and other areas which are zone 6 to 7, Daylilies can be divided in the fall. Divisions are the easiest way to propagate Daylilies because the clumps can more than double in size over a 3 year period. To divide, simply dig up a clump of your favorite Daylilies and use a sharp spade to cut the clump into smaller sections. The roots grow thickly, so sometimes this is harder than it sounds. Once you have your divisions, cut the foliage back by half and plant in a new location, making sure not to bury the roots more than an inch or two below the soil. Water well and you should have a few blooms next summer.
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