Need to know the ins-and-outs of Daylily care?

You’re in the right place!

With the proper care, these perennials will continue to grace your garden with flowers for years and years to come.

So let’s jump right into it!

Suitable USDA Zones

There are many types of Daylily out there.

There are varieties that survive down to USDA Zone 3 and there are some that survive up to USDA Zone 9.

This means that most varieties will survive year-round for the vast majority of Americans.

If you’re in one of the more extreme Zones, such as 3, 4 or 9, you’ll need to double-check that your selected variety will grow well in your area.

Keep in mind that most garden centers are going to offer varieties that grow in your zone. Otherwise, you can order specific hardy varieties.

If you’re in Zone 9, check out some of the Evergreen varieties, such as the Evergreen Stella Daylily. These tend to be a little hardier in the heat.

Overwintering Daylilies

Once your daylilies have a season or two under their belt in your landscape, they’ll survive the winter without any problem.

But you may want to take extra precautions during their first winter.

Once they go dormant, cover them with 3-4 inches of mulch or pinestraw.

This will insulate them from the winter cold and help ensure they survive.

Don’t forget to remove the pinestraw or mulch in the spring.

For Evergreen varieties, pile the insulation around (but not up against) the base of the plant.

Daylily Sun Exposure

Ideally, your daylilies should receive 6 hours of sun daily.

The best situation is if they can receive those 6 hours in the morning and shade in the afternoon.

Afternoon sun is very harsh and some varieties will struggle if they get a lot of it.

I don’t recommend planting daylilies where they will receive less than 4 hours of direct sun.

They may survive, but they’ll have gangly, washed-out looking foliage and sparse blooms.

How to Water Daylilies

Daylilies need roughly an inch of water per week to grow properly.

They’re particularly vulnerable when they’re first planted in your landscape.

Provide new plantings with supplementary water 2 to 3 times per week during dry weather (especially during the summer heat).

If you can, water them underneath their foliage at the base of the plant. Daylilies are susceptible to fungal infections, particularly rust, when their foliage is consistently moist and the weather is warm.

After they have a growing season under their belt, they should be established enough that your weekly Daylily care won’t require much, if any, supplementary water.

However, even established plants will require extra water if you experience an extended period of extreme heat and drought.

Soil Requirements for Ideal Daylily Care

Daylily care is much easier in the right soil. Like many perennials, Daylilies prefer loamy soil.

Loam is comprised of clay, sand, and humus. This creates the perfect storm of ingredients.

The clay is rich in minerals and retains moisture. The sand improves drainage and soil aeration. The humus is rich in organic matter and provides steady nutrients.

Daylilies will grow well in most average quality soils with good drainage, though.

To improve the quality of your soil, mix in compost with the native soil when planting.

You can also top dress the soil around the base of your plant with 3-4 inches of compost yearly to continue to improve the soil over time.

Daylily Soil pH

Daylilies will tolerate most regular soil pH levels. Anywhere from 6.0 to 8.0.

This is a pretty healthy range.

Chances are that you have a real soil problem to address if your pH is outside of that.

Dividing Daylilies

Your Daylilies will spread each year. They’ll eventually become so tightly compacted with plants that you’ll need to divide them.

You can do whatever you want with these divisions. Give them away, plant them somewhere else, anything.

Keep in mind that this is best done after your Daylilies have bloomed for the year.

1. Use a shovel to cut around the entire clump.
2. Carefully remove the plants from the hole with your spade
3. If your plant is smaller, you can shake the extra dirt off (Carefully!). If you have a large clump, you can gently hose the soil off.
4. Now that you can see the exposed roots, you should be able to identify the individual plants.
5. With some varieties, you’ll be able to remove the individual plants by hand. Others, you’ll need to cut into sections.
6. Replant your divided Daylilies and water them very regularly. 3 or even 4 times per week. Your new plants will dry out easily since the soil was removed from their roots.

Wrapping Up Daylily Care

So you should have a good idea of everything you need to know about Daylily care now.

Overall, they’re easy-care beauties. But covering your bases will ensure that you get the results you want from your plants for years to come.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to add anything to the conversation, leave a comment below!

Thanks for reading.