Follow these instructions to enjoy your new Sugar Bay Daylilies:
Daylilies are extremely hardy and will tolerate a broad range of climates and conditions. There are some basic steps to follow to insure that you have the healthiest plants possible.
Preparing your planting location:
Sunlight - Daylilies need at least six hours of direct sunlight a day to thrive. Some shade is OK especially in hotter climates, but try find a place where they will get at least 3-4 hours of direct sunlight.
Soil - Many types of soil can be tolerated, but plants should not be planted in poorly drained areas where the plants would remain in standing water for extended periods. Heavily compacted or clay soils should be amended with organic material such as peat, humus or compost. Ideally, the soil PH should be about 6.5 for the best performance.
Planting:
Preparing Plants - It is best to plant your new daylilies the day you receive them. Remove them from their packaging and soak them in a bucket of water while you prepare the soil for planting. Keep the plastic name tag on the plant; it can be left on the plant indefinitely.
Preparing Soil - Daylilies should be planted 1-2 feet apart to allow for growth. Dig a hole for each plant that is 12 inches deep and 12 inches around. Break up the soil that is removed from the hole and mix in peat, humus, or compost if required to lighten soil. Fill the bottom of the hole with a “cone” of this soil and place the daylily plant on top of the cone so that the roots run down it’s side. The plant should be set so that the crown (the point where the roots and leaves meet) is just slightly (½ inch) below ground level. Fill around the roots carefully packing the soil from the tips of the roots first working up to the crown and tamp around the plant so that no air is trapped by the roots. Water the plant in thoroughly as soon as it is planted.
Care and Feeding:
Daylilies will provide you with years of enjoyment with minimal care.
Watering - Daylilies require about 1 inch of water every other week.
Fertilizing - Use a balanced (10-10-10 or 14-14-14) fertilizer twice a year – once in early spring and once again during peak bloom season (May-July depending upon location).
Weed Control - It is a good idea to keep the area around the plants weeded. Once established, they will grow dense enough to choke out many new weeds. If mulch is used, don’t mulch right up to the plant; leave a ring of bare soil around each plant to allow the plant to “breathe”.
Deadheading – During the summer months your daylilies will produce large numbers of flowers. Each flower will last about one day then will fade, leaving a seed pod behind. The seed pod can be simply snapped off and discarded. This process, called “deadheading”, will help your plants to continue to produce more flowers instead of diverting it’s energy to seed formation.
Dividing and Transplanting:
Daylily clumps can be dug out of the ground and divided anytime of year, provided that there is at least 6-8 weeks of temperature above freezing left for them to get re-established once divided. Many people divide every three to five years to keep the plants thriving. Dividing – We find the best way to divide is to dig the whole group of plants up, cut all of the tops off to about 3 inches above the crown, wash the dirt off the roots with water and carefully pull off 2-4 fan divisions with your hands. Each division should contain both roots and leaves. Replant the divisions in the same way you planted the new plants. Daylilies make great gifts for your friends.
Thank you for choosing Sugar Bay Daylilies!