Ad Blocker Detected
Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.
To enhance the blooming of your daylilies, a single dose of energy in the spring can work wonders.
Generally, daylilies aren’t picky about soil nutrient levels, and they can thrive in a variety of soil types without any trouble. However, when it comes to blooming, providing them with the right amount of nutrients in the spring can help them gear up for a more abundant and impressive display of blooms throughout the growing season.
The great thing is that giving them this boost of nutrients is incredibly simple!
How To Fertilize Daylilies In The Spring
The optimal time to fertilize daylilies is just before or as they begin emerging from the soil. Providing them with energy at this stage allows the plant to store up power specifically for blooming. However, if you fertilize right before or as the plant starts to flower, the nutrients will likely be directed towards growth rather than blooming.
Before applying fertilizer in the spring, there are a couple of simple tasks to tackle for your daylilies. Firstly, always make sure to clear away any remaining foliage or bloom stems from the previous year. Ideally, this should be done in the fall, as it allows the plant to rejuvenate quickly and easily when spring arrives.
Keeping Your Daylilies Manageable – How To Fertilize Daylilies In The Spring
In addition to clearing away the old, decaying foliage, it’s also important to take the time to split and divide any oversized clumps before fertilizing. Over time, daylilies left in the ground for too many years can develop large and tangled root systems, which can hinder their growth and blooming potential.
Splitting and dividing these clumps not only helps rejuvenate the plants but also ensures better airflow and nutrient absorption, ultimately promoting healthier growth and more abundant blooms.
By regularly dividing plants, they can more efficiently absorb nutrients from the soil. This translates to more energy available for producing blooms!
When daylilies become overcrowded, their roots struggle to absorb water, nutrients, and even fertilizer from the soil. This is akin to the issue of potted plants becoming root-bound. As a result, the plant’s foliage becomes thick and crowded, leading to a significant reduction in blooms. In severe cases, they may not bloom at all.
The good news is that daylilies are incredibly resilient. They can be divided in either spring or fall, and they can even handle division during the summer months. If you divide them in spring before fertilizing, they’ll likely still bloom during the same season.
As a general guideline, it’s recommended to divide and split daylilies every four to five years. This helps keep the root clusters manageable and ensures maximum flowering potential.
Choosing The Right Fertilizer – How To Fertilize Daylilies In The Spring
Once you’ve taken care of removing old foliage and dividing any oversized clumps, it’s time to fertilize your daylilies. Opt for a balanced, granular fertilizer as daylilies don’t have excessive nutrient demands, and a balanced feeding approach works best.
All fertilizers are labeled with an N-P-K set of numbers, representing the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, the three primary nutrients plants need. Nitrogen supports overall plant growth and promotes lush foliage. Phosphorus and potassium are crucial for plant health and play a significant role in bloom production and flowering.
When selecting a fertilizer for daylilies, choose a slow-release granular product with an N-P-K formula ranging from 10-10-10 to 15-15-15. This balanced formula provides a steady supply of essential nutrients, ensuring that your daylilies grow and bloom to their fullest potential.
Affiliate Product Link: Southern Ag All Purpose Granular Fertilizer 10-10-10
How To Apply – How To Fertilize Daylilies In The Spring
Granular fertilizers work in a slow and steady manner. When applied, they gradually break down in the soil, releasing nutrients over the course of weeks. This contrasts with liquid fertilizers, which deliver their nutrients quickly over just a day or two.
Granular fertilizers help prevent plants from growing too rapidly, focusing energy on foliage growth rather than blooming. Instead, nutrients are absorbed gradually, allowing the plants to reserve most of their energy for producing blooms.
When fertilizing, apply approximately 1/4 cup of granular fertilizer for each average-sized daily clump. If your plants are larger, you can use a bit more. Conversely, for new transplants or smaller plants, around 1/8 cup should suffice. Adjust the amount based on the size and condition of your daylilies to ensure they receive the right amount of nutrients for optimal growth and blooming.
A balanced, granular fertilizer like this 10-10-10 product is ideal for daylilies.
Sprinkle the granules evenly around the base of the plant, ensuring they’re spread out. Once applied, water the fertilizer to help it start breaking down. This not only aids in the breakdown process but also prevents any fertilizer that may have landed on the foliage from potentially burning it with excess nutrients.
After fertilizing and watering, top it off with a few inches of mulch. The mulch will cover the fertilizer, allowing it to gradually break down into the soil over the following weeks. Now, all that’s left to do is sit back, relax, and watch your daylilies thrive and bloom!
