Things You'll Need:
- Garden tools Garden spade/fork
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Step 1
Select an area in your yard that receives full sun for 6 to 8 hours a day. Even though daylilies will grow in a more shaded location, full sun is preferred.
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Step 2
Plant new daylilies in the spring or fall for best results. Work compost into the soil to improve the texture and to encourage good drainage. Plant the bulbs with the crown one inch below the surface of the soil. Space 1 ½ to 2 feet apart in groups of three or more to create a dramatic display.
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Step 3
Water newly planted lilies thoroughly and keep the soil moist until they are fully established. Watering for the first month or two is recommended. Once established, daylilies are drought tolerant and do not require additional watering unless the weather is extremely hot and dry, but will benefit from watering during blooming season.
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Step 4
Mulch in the spring with 2 to 3 inches of compost. Apply fertilizer low in nitrogen just prior to blooming to promote healthy blooms. High-nitrogen fertilizers encourage the growth of lush green foliage but may sacrifice blooms.
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Step 5
Deadhead spent blooms to encourage the plant to produce more blooms. Removing blooms before they go to seed tricks the plant into thinking it has not produced seed and signals it to rebloom.
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Step 6
Once blooming has ceased, allow foliage to continue to grow. This provides food for building strong bulbs for next year's plants. Cut dead and dying foliage back to ground level in the fall.
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Step 7
Divide daylilies when they have become overcrowded and blooms diminish. Dig with a garden fork and lift the bulbs from the soil. Separate into sections by pulling the bulbs apart into fan-like sections with leaves attached. Replant in similar soil and light.
