Your daylilies have arrived and you’re so excited to see them growing and making your garden more beautiful– but then a late winter snow storm or a spring flood hits, and suddenly you are faced with the question: “How do I plant daylilies (and what do I do now?)”
Our answer? Don’t worry about it!
Visit us at www.oakesdaylilies.com to get some inspiration until the weather cooperates. It will eventually. Weather plays a very important role in spring planting. Unlike many other mail order companies, our daylilies are growing until you place your order. Only when your order is processed do we dig them up to send. We can’t get in the fields to dig if there is a late snowstorm, freeze, or torrential downpour. Likewise, you can’t plant them if the same thing is going on where you live.
So what’s a daylily lover to do?!
Relax! We’ll take care of things on our end, but here’s a brief “What To Do” to help you take care of things in your neck of the woods:
- Because of their size and health, our daylilies travel very well in containers. Still, like most living things, they appreciate getting fresh air. Once your daylilies arrive, open the box and let ’em breathe!
- If you can’t plant your daylilies right away, set them in a cool, dry place and let them acclimate to their new home– but don’t forget to check on them!
- Once the weather starts cooperating (and the snow stops, or the ground thaws, or the floods recede or whatever the crazy spring weather throws your way!) it’s time to plant your daylilies. Since daylilies are shipped bare root, if they look a bit dried out, just soak them for a few hours in some water before planting.
- Daylilies are extremely adaptable, so if another cold snap happens after you plant, don’t worry! If your inclement weather decides to stick around, you can protect newly planted daylilies from frost by tenting them under a blanket or placing them under an overturned pot.
When you start to plant your daylilies, you may be tempted to divide them– PLEASE! DON’T DIVIDE YOUR DAYLILIES!!
We send large, healthy daylilies for a reason, and their size, good quality, and excellent health are just a few reasons why our daylilies perform so well in your garden. Dividing them the first few years will decrease their chance for survival and practically guarantees a paltry– if any– bloom season the first summer.
We usually send 3 to 4 fans of each plant to ensure it stays healthy and blooms well.
Be patient– wait a few years– and then divide. Trust us (this is kind of our thing, you know!) Your daylilies– and your garden– will look so much better because of it!
How to Plant Daylilies:
It’s easy to plant daylilies! First, select a spot that has good drainage and gets plenty of daylight. Next, dig a hole that is deep and wide enough to place the roots.
Then, plant them to the depth they were previously planted. You can tell how deep they had been planted by paying attention to the plant itself.
In the picture to the left, can you see the white ring between the roots and leaves? That’s about ground level–or where they had previously been planted. (Told you it was easy!)
Finally, all you have to do is cover the roots and firm the soil. (Doesn’t the picture on the right look lovely? We love to see daylilies happy in their new homes!)
Once that’s done, water well and then go sit in the shade, drink a big ol’ glass of sweet tea, and start planning where you’ll plant your next daylily!
If you are planning on planting daylilies this year, now is a great time to order. At this point in the year, we haven’t yet sold out of any of the varieties you may be eyeing (a very real possibility later in the season) and there is still time for daylilies to get settled into their new garden homes before bloom season.
