This question, “What should I do with my daylilies after they bloom in the middle of summer?” is one of the most-asked ones on the blog right now, and for good reason.
Daylilies are a fantastic choice for the landscape. They are low-maintenance, hardy, and for the most part, both deer and drought resistant. Even better, they are also quite easy to split and divide into new plants.
But many gardeners don’t know how to take care of these plants after the blooms fall off as they get close to the end of their big early summer blooming cycle. Daylilies can be found in a wide variety of bloom colors, shapes and sizes. They are an excellent choice for a wide range of landscapes and are highly drought tolerant.
Is it time to prune them? Should I feed them? Is there something I can do to make them bloom longer? If they get too big, can I split them in the summer?
All of these questions and more about summer daylily care make it to our inbox. Because of this, we thought it would be a good idea to write a short article on how to take care of summer daylilies.
Daylilies are some of the most popular perennial flowers for gardens. Known for their bright colors and ability to bloom all season long daylilies bring cheer wherever they grow. While daylilies require minimal care when actively growing and blooming there are some important steps to take after the blooms fade to ensure the plants stay healthy. Follow this guide on caring for daylilies after blooming for ongoing success.
Remove Spent Blooms
Once a daylily bloom finishes, remove the spent flower stalk right above the foliage This encourages the plant to focus energy on growing more buds rather than going to seed. Snip off spent blooms with pruners or garden scissors Make cuts at an angle to avoid trapping moisture. Check plants daily and remove faded blooms as soon as you notice them.
Deadhead for Repeat Blooms
Many daylily varieties rebloom or bloom repeatedly through the season. Deadheading or removing spent blooms helps encourage repeat flowering. As energy isn’t wasted on seed production, more nutrients can fuel new bud formation. For continual bloom all season long, be diligent about removing faded flowers.
Cut Back Foliage
Around 6 weeks after peak bloom, cut back the foliage to about 6 inches above the ground. This allows light and air circulation while conserving nutrients. Remove all diseased or insect damaged leaves first. Then use garden shears to trim back healthy foliage, making angled cuts.
Fertilize Lightly
Apply a light feeding after bloom and foliage removal. This provides nutrients to help the plants store energy for next year. Use a balanced organic fertilizer, compost tea, or aged manure. Follow package instructions for amounts. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers which can promote foliar growth over flowers.
Water Consistently
Keep soil evenly moist, but not soggy through any remaining growing season. Deep weekly soakings are better than frequent light watering. Mulch around plants to conserve moisture. Reduce watering as plants enter dormancy in fall. Then water only if rainfall is less than 1 inch per week.
Watch for Pests and Disease
Inspect plants regularly for any signs of problems. Common daylily pests include aphids, thrips spider mites Japanese beetles, and earwigs. Diseases to watch for are rust, botrytis blight, southern blight, and viral infections. Remove affected foliage immediately. Use organic pesticides if infestations spread.
Consider Dividing Congested Clumps
If clumps become overgrown and congested, consider dividing daylilies in early fall. Use a spade to dig up and divide the root masses, making sure each division has some roots and foliage. Replant divisions 18-24 inches apart. Water well after transplanting.
Add Winter Mulch in Cold Climates
In zones 4-6, add a winter mulch layer after the ground freezes. Spread 2-4 inches of shredded leaves, straw, or evergreen branches over the dormant foliage. The mulch insulates the crown and roots from freeze/thaw cycles. Remove mulch in spring as new growth emerges.
Key Tips
Here are some key tips to remember when caring for daylilies after blooming:
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Deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage reblooming. Make cuts just above foliage.
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Cut back foliage to 6 inches in mid to late summer to promote good air circulation.
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Water evenly throughout the season, reducing frequency as plants go dormant.
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Watch for common pests like thrips, spider mites, and earwigs.
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Divide overgrown clumps every 3-5 years in early fall.
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Fertilize lightly after bloom and pruning to support energy storage.
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Add winter mulch in cold climates once ground freezes solid.
When to Call a Professional
Consult a professional landscaper or horticulturist if:
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Unknown diseases spread quickly defoliating plants.
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Dividing overgrown clumps proves difficult or unsuccessful.
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Pest infestations persist despite organic treatments.
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Plants decline despite proper care. This could indicate improper site conditions.
Enjoy the Beauty
With proper care after blooming, daylilies will continue performing for years. Follow these tips to keep plants healthy and productive. Then sit back and enjoy the vibrant blooms! Daylilies are some of the easiest perennials to grow, lighting up gardens with their colorful flowers.
Summer Daylily Care 101 – What To Do With Daylilies After They Bloom
There are a huge number of different colors, shapes, and sizes of daylilies, from the common Orange daylily to the very popular Stella D’oro and many more in between.
Some varieties bloom for a single session. But many, like the Stella, can re-bloom several times through the summer. Especially if they are given a bit of extra TLC. Many varieties of daylilies, like these Stella D’oro’s, will bloom multiple times each growing season. And with a bit of mid-summer care, you can help those blooms come on much faster.
But no matter which variety you have, summer care is important to their long-term healthy and vibrancy. Along with keeping the leaves strong and pretty during the long summer months, it can also help the plants bloom better and stronger the next year.
This summer, here’s what you can do to keep your daylilies looking great. Depending on the type, they may even bloom more than once!
Daylily Care 101 – Bloom Maintenance
After the first blooms appear, it’s important to get rid of any flowers that are past their best. By doing this, you keep the plant’s energy focused on producing new blooms.
An entire blooming period can extend anywhere from a few weeks to as long as 45 days. It all really depends on the variety of daylily. But getting rid of old blooms helps that time go by faster, no matter what kind of plant you are growing.
Unfortunately, when old blooms stay on the plant, they continue to use resources from the plant. Resources that should and could be going to create more blooms and brighter foliage. Getting rid of blooms that are past their best will help plants focus their energy on making new blooms and better foliage.
Removing old bloom stems can be done by hand, with a sharp pair of scissors, or as we prefer doing, with a handy set of hand-held pruners. Product Link : Fiskars Bypass Pruners
Bypass pruners make quick work with little effort, and also work great for some of the woodier stems. One of the nice things about daylilies are that their blooms tend to last for long periods. That means you have plenty of time to enjoy them before having to take them off!.
What I do with my daylilies after they have bloomed
How do I care for my daylilies after they bloom?
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.
Do daylilies need summer care?
Many varieties of daylilies, like these Stella D’oro’s, will bloom multiple times each growing season. And with a bit of mid-summer care, you can help those blooms come on much faster. But no matter which variety you have, summer care is important to their long-term healthy and vibrancy.
Do daylilies need to be removed before flowering?
A daylily plant uses a lot of energy to form seed pods after flowering. By removing the stems before it can produce seeds, you can help it save energy for better foliage – and better blooms in the future! Ever notice how the fronds or foliage of your daylilies pale in late summer?
Should you fertilize a daylily before re-blooming?
And, if you have re-blooming varieties like the Stella D’oro, this practice also helps create a second bloom cycle much more rapidly. For any variety of daylily, this is also a great time to give them a bit of all purpose plant fertilizer. This allows them to build up strong roots and energy for the next bloom cycle.