Daylilies are incredibly hardy and reliable perennials. With just a bit of fall maintenance, these long-blooming plants will be sure to provide your gardens with prolific flowers for years to come.
Here are a few quick tips to keep your daylily plants looking fresh during the autumn season and healthy for the winter.
Deadheading: After daylilies bloom, they leave tall, unsightly stalks. Cut all yellow or brown stalks as low into the foliage as possible, to thoroughly hide any signs of those dead-looking sticks. Deadheading helps rejuvenate and restore the plant, as it sends more energy into its roots and healthy leaves.
Caring for Daylily Foliage:
Daylily leaves frequently dry out, turn yellow, and/or flop to the ground. Easily remove dried-out foliage at the base of the plant with just a quick sweep of your hand. Cut away yellowing leaves with a hand-pruner. If your daylilies have flopped over, cut the foliage back to the desired height. For fall clean-up, cut all daylily foliage to 6 inches. Removing old foliage allows your daylilies to reserve energy for their roots for the winter and reduces the amount of work required for spring clean-up the following year.
Transplanting: Early fall (right now!) and early spring is the best time to transplant or divide your daylilies. To divide, find a section with at least 3 to 5 fans. Dig around the outside edge of the section you need, and sever the roots from the main plant. Replant the division and space at least 18″-36″ from other plants.
If you have questions about care for your daylilies, stop in and talk to our specialists at the garden center!