DAYLILY
(Hemerocallis) Family: Liliaceae
Up to 300 flowers over 4 months of flowering. That's what a well grown daylily plant can produce after 3 growing seasons. These fantastic hybrids are sensational garden plants with huge blooms bursting open all summer long. Flower size: 13- 15cm.
Flowering Season - Nov- Jan. Mar- Apr.
Plant Size- 80cm H x 25cm W.
Planting Density- 40cm apart.
Multiplication speed -70cm wide clump in 3 yrs.
Preferred Aspect -Full sun. (Min. 6 hrs sunlight) Tolerates light frost.
Plant Uses - Containers, landscapes, ground cover, specimen plant, borders.
Likes- Deep summer waterings, organic fertiliser, liquid seaweed fertiliser.
Dislikes -Leaves may burn in extreme hot dry weather, plant will repair as weather cools. Chemical fertilisers.
Soil Preparation - Soil preparation should begin months before planting. Dig deeply and add blood and bone, Dynamic Lifter, Organic Life, compost or old manure. Spent mushroom compost is an excellent soil conditioner, increasing soil humus, fertility and encourages masses of worms. A friable soil gives the roots a chance to grow rapidly and become established.
Planting - A hole should be dug in your prepared bed that is slightly larger than the root mass. Mound some soil in the centre of the hole and place the plant on the mound. Fill the hole with the remaining soil so that the crown of the plant is just below the soil surface, then tamp firmly. The plant should then be watered and mulched. Don't over water while it is becoming established. In a mass planting situation space them 50cm apart but the most preferred spacing is one metre.
Landscaping- Day lilies make an excellent border or dramatic specimen plant. In a group or border, space daylilies about 50 centimetres apart but when planted in this manner they need to be thinned out after three years. The miniature, small flowered and low growing varieties are excellent for this purpose. The Tetraploid varieties make magnificent specimen plants and need space to show off their tall scapes and large blooms. Daylilies can be used effectively in many parts of the garden - on slopes not suited to mowing, around lakes and ponds, along fences and in the rock garden. Daylilies will grow well in large, deep containers if kept moist and fed regularly. Grow them in full sun in the backyard and move the tubs to the patio or verandah when in bloom.
Watering - Water is essential for the good performance of your daylilies. i.e. There will be more abundant branching and buds and larger blooms. A good soaking once a week is effective.
Increasing your stock by dividing- If you know that your clump is three or more years old and you think the daylily is not performing as well as in previous years, it probably needs to be dug, the crowns divided and the pieces replanted. Early Spring and Autumn are the best times in most parts of the country for this process. Dig the clump and shake off the excess dirt. Trim back the leaves. Separate by pulling with a strong bladed knife.
Pest and diseases - Daylilies are practically disease and pest free. However, it may be necessary to watch for thrip, aphids, spider mites and white curl grubs in the soil.
