Daylilies are beautiful plants that can help to brighten up any outdoor area. However, in order to make the most of them you need to ensure that you care for them properly. While they do not require a great deal of maintenance, it is important to familiarise yourself with how to care for daylilies after they bloom, so that you can continue enjoying their colour and beauty.
Steps to take when caring for your plants after blooming
Here are the four best steps that you need to do to take the best care of your daylilies to maintain them once they have bloomed. This includes:
Remove the seedpods: Some flowers will start to develop seed pods after they have finished blooming and these seed pods can result in the energy and nutrient levels being depleted. The best way to avoid the weakening of the plants is to remove the seedpods, which will result in a much healthier plant and should increase the flower numbers. During the bloom period deadhead the flowers from the plants once or twice per week.
Continue watering them: Even though the plants have bloomed, you still need to make sure that the soil is moist enough for the daylilies. A deep watering once weekly should provide adequate moisture. Make sure you also remove any weeds from nearby so that they do not take the moisture away from your plants.
Prepare them for winter: After blooming and during autumn, you need to start preparing your plants for the winter. Keep them properly watered until the onset of winter and make sure you keep your eye out for any signs of diseased leaves, which you will need to remove and dispose of. You can protect against frost damage by applying 2-3 inches of mulch in the run up to the colder weather.
Dividing: It is important to also divide the plants, as they can eventually become crowded – this is something that only needs to be done every 3-4 years this depends, on the vigour of the plant. You simply dig up the roots with care and divide the roots into groups of 3 plants equal segments using a clean, sharp knife. Each segment should contain roots and leaves and should then be replanted.
We encourage you to buy, divide and replant your daylilies in the cooler seasons of the year, autumn and winter from April to September is a great time to do this and not divide your daylilies after they finish flowering in January which is summer. This means that the daylilies have to acclimatise to their new surroundings as well as endure a long hot summer. This time of year is too stressful for the daylily plants and can cause daylily crown rot.
Space the daylilies 16 inches for small size daylilies and up to 30 inches apart for the large daylily plants in every direction. This will ensure that the daylily varieties are kept separated.
These simple steps will help to ensure that your daylilies receive proper care after blooming and into the winter season.