Caring for Daylilies After They Bloom – Keeping Plants Strong and Getting Them to Rebloom

Daylilies are beloved for lighting up gardens with their cheery blooms in a rainbow of colors. But caring for them properly after their initial flowering is key to keeping plants healthy and getting them to rebloom again in the same season. Follow these tips for success!

Overview of Daylily Care After Blooming

• Deadhead spent blooms regularly to conserve energy.

• Remove seed heads that form to prevent wasting energy on seeds

• Apply a balanced fertilizer to help plants recover and store nutrients

• Keep soil consistently moist but avoid overwatering.

• Monitor for pests like aphids that may appear and treat promptly.

• Divide crowded clumps every few years to maintain vigor.

• Cut back foliage in fall once it fades to tidy up for winter.

Why Deadheading is Crucial

Deadheading simply means removing spent, faded blooms by snipping them off at the base of the flower stem. This serves multiple purposes:

• Prevents plants from wasting energy trying to revive old blooms.

• Channels energy toward producing new blooms instead.

• Keeps plants looking neat and tidy after initial flowering.

• Potentially allows more sunlight to reach remaining buds to open.

Deadhead blooms as soon as you notice them starting to fade and brown. Use clean, sharp pruners or scissors to snip off the entire flower stalk back down to the foliage.

Deadheading is extra important for varieties where you hope to get reblooming. Removing spent blooms conserves energy that can go toward new blooms instead of trying to repair old ones.

Eliminating Seed Heads

In addition to deadheading flowers, also remove any seed heads (scapes) that begin forming after initial blooms fade. Seed heads drain energy away from the plant’s needs toward producing seeds instead.

To remove scapes, trace the seed head stem down into the foliage, then use pruners to cut if off right at soil level. Leaving any part of the stem intact will allow nutrients to still travel to the developing seeds.

Getting rid of scapes prevents energy drain and gives your plants the best shot at producing a second round of flowers in the current season.

Fertilizing to Help Recovery and Fuel Rebloom

While daylilies don’t need heavy feeding, applying a balanced fertilizer after the first flush of blooms is beneficial. It provides nutrients to help plants recover from the stress of flowering and build energy reserves.

Use an all-purpose granular fertilizer and sprinkle it around the base of the foliage according to label rates. Scrub any granules off the leaves to prevent potential burn. Water after applying to wash the fertilizer into the soil.

Alternatively, you can use worm castings as an organic fertilizer option. Sprinkle 1/8 cup per plant around the base. Watering will help the nutrients seep into the soil steadily.

Fertilizing in late summer will help prepare plants for winter while also boosting their reblooming ability. Avoid fertilizing in early spring or fall to prevent encouraging late season growth.

Keeping Soil Evenly Moist

While daylilies tolerate drought once established, keeping their soil consistently moist (but not soggy) after blooming is ideal. This encourages strong summer foliage growth and reblooming.

Use a soil probe or finger to check moisture levels. Water thoroughly only when the top few inches become dry. Frequent light watering encourages shallow roots, so aim for deeper weekly soakings.

Mulching around plants helps retain soil moisture while suppressing weeds. Organic mulches like pine needles or bark chips work well. Maintain a 2-3 inch depth, keeping mulch a few inches away from stems.

Pest Monitoring and Prevention

Aphids, spider mites, and thrips may take advantage of stressed, post-bloom plants. Check under leaves regularly and treat any pests you find promptly before they spread.

Simple blasts of water every few days can help dislodge aphids. Insecticidal soap or neem oil also work for control.

Clean up fallen foliage and blooms around plants to eliminate hiding spots for pests. Keep nearby weeds cleared as alternate host sites.

Division to Maintain Plant Vigor

As daylily clumps mature and expand, blooming and plant vigor may start to decline. Dividing congested patches every 2-3 years in early spring revitalizes plants.

Use a spade to slice out a section containing several fans and root mass. Replant divisions in prepared garden beds. Compost excess old foliage and roots.

Dividing daylilies regularly eliminates congestion and rejuvenates growth. It also gives you more plants to expand flowerbeds or share!

Fall Cleanup Tasks

Once cooler weather arrives and daylily foliage begins fading, cut it all the way back for winter. Remove any remaining scapes as well.

Cleanup removes potential overwintering sites for pests and tidies up the garden before winter. It also prevents diseases like leaf streak from carrying over.

Some gardeners prefer leaving faded foliage in place over winter to help insulate plants. Either approach works fine.

After cleanup, apply a final round of fertilizer to nourish roots before dormancy. Mulch over beds for added insulation if desired.

Key Daylily Varieties That Rebloom Well

While daylilies vary in their reblooming ability, these popular varieties tend to send up a decent second flush of flowers:

• Stella de Oro – Extremely prolific with yellow blooms.

• Purple de Oro – Purple version of Stella.

• Miss Amelia – Pale yellow/white blooms for over 100 days.

• Pardon Me – Striking dark burgundy-red rebloomer.

• Happy Returns – Canopy of bright yellow, fragrant blooms.

Caring properly for daylilies after their first round of blooms is the key to keeping plants healthy and encouraging rebloom.

Regular deadheading, fertilizing, moisture maintenance, and pest monitoring will keep plants in top shape for ongoing beauty. Dividing mature clumps every few years maintains vigor.

Follow these tips and you’ll enjoy weeks more of delightful daylily blooms!