What to do when daylilies have finished flowering?
I. Introduction
A. Overview of daylilies
B. What to do when daylilies have finished flowering
II. Pruning Daylilies
A. When to prune daylilies
B. How to prune daylilies
III. Deadheading Daylilies
A. When to deadhead daylilies
B. How to deadhead daylilies
IV. Staking Daylilies
A. When to stake daylilies
B. How to stake daylilies
V. Fertilizing Daylilies
A. When to fertilize daylilies
B. How to fertilize daylilies
VI. Watering Daylilies
A. When to water daylilies
B. How to water daylilies
VII. Mulching Daylilies
A. When to mulch around the base of daylilies
B. What type of mulch is best for use around the base of daylilies
VIII . Controlling Weeds Around Day Liles A. Why weeds should be controlled around the base of the plants B How best to control weeds around the base of the plants IX Planting New Day Liles A When and why new plants should be planted B Best practices when planting new plants X Rejuvenating Existing Plants A Diagnosing why a plant may need rejuvenating B Best practices for rejuvenating existing plants XI Conclusion A Summary of key points B Final tips on how best to care for your plants
Day lily plants are beautiful additions to any garden, providing plenty of vibrant colour throughout the summer months with their long-lasting blooms that last for just one day before dropping off and being replaced by a fresh new flower! But what do you do when your lily’s blooming cycle has come to an end? Well, there are a few things you can do that will ensure your lily continues looking its best and remains healthy throughout the year ahead! In this article, we’ll give you our top tips on how best to care for your lily once it has finished flowering, from pruning and deadheading, through staking and fertilizing, right through mulching and more! So let’s get started!
Pruning
Pruning your lily is one of the most important steps in caring for it once it has finished flowering – it helps keep it looking neat and tidy, as well as preventing it from using energy on seed production which can weaken its overall health over time! The best time of year to prune your lily is in late winter or early spring before new growth starts appearing – this way you can remove any dead or damaged foliage without damaging any healthy growth underneath! The correct way in which you should prune your lily depends on its size – small varieties should be cut back by at least a third, while larger varieties may need more drastic pruning – but always ensure that you leave at least a few inches above soil level as this will help protect against frost damage during winter months!
Deadheading
Deadheading is another essential step in caring for your lily once it has finished flowering – simply snap off spent flowers taking care not to disturb any nearby buds! This will help keep the plant looking neat and tidy as well as preventing any energy from going into producing seeds, which again can weaken its overall health over time! It is also important that you remove all foliage that has turned yellow or brown over time – these are signs of unhealthy growth which will only continue getting worse if left unchecked!
Staking
If you live in an area prone to strong winds then staking your lily may be necessary once it has finished flowering – this helps keep the plant stable and prevents it from being damaged by gusts of wind during summer months! The best time of year for staking is usually in late spring or early summer when the plant is beginning to grow again and requires extra support due to increased height – simply use stakes that are long enough for your particular variety (around 3-4ft) and make sure they are firmly secured into place with string or twine before attaching them securely around the base of your plant!
Fertilizing
Fertilizing your lily is also an important step in keeping it looking its best once it has finished flowering – this helps replenish all essential nutrients lost during blooming season as well as encouraging strong healthy growth throughout summer months ahead! The best type of fertilizer for use on lillies is one specifically designed for use on blooming plants such as Miracle-Gro Bloom Booster or similar products with a high phosphorus content (the P number) – apply this directly onto soil surface or dilute with water if using a liquid version and water thoroughly afterwards, ensuring soil is moist but not overly wet at all times throughout application process!
Watering
Watering your lily regularly (at least twice per week during warmer months) ensures that it remains hydrated throughout summer months ahead which helps promote strong healthy growth all season long! Always ensure soil surface remains moist but never overly wet (as this can cause root rot) and avoid standing water puddles at all costs as these can create ideal conditions for moulds and bacteria which can harm delicate roots systems in no time at all! If rainfall levels are low then watering manually using a watering can or hose pipe may be necessary every few days during peak periods – try not leave more than two days between watering sessions if possible as this will provide optimal conditions for root systems development over time!
Mulching
Mulching around the base of your lily will help keep weeds at bay while also helping retain moisture levels within soil surface which prevents root systems from drying out too quickly during hotter months ahead – try using organic mulches such as wood chips or bark chips as these help nourish soil plus they look great too!. To apply mulch simply spread evenly across soil surface making sure none comes into contact with stem or foliage directly (as this could cause rot) then lightly press down so that there are no air pockets left behind – finally water thoroughly afterwards so that mulch binds together nicely over time!.
Controlling Weeds
Weeds can quickly take over even established gardens if left unchecked so controlling them around the base of your lily is essential once it has finished flowering – try using natural methods such as weeding manually by hand or spot treating affected areas with boiling water instead where possible!. If weedkiller must be used then opt for a glyphosate-free version such as Weedol Rootkill Plus which targets only specific weeds without damaging neighbouring plants – always follow instructions carefully when using weedkillers however, paying particular attention not only when applying but also after application too!. This means covering treated areas with plastic sheeting until dry plus washing down tools used afterwards too – better safe than sorry after all!.
Planting New Lillies
At some point, existing plants may become weakened due age related issues therefore planting new ones becomes necessary – try doing this in late spring/early summer when temperatures begin warming up allowing roots more favourable conditions when establishing themselves within their new environment – always prepare ground first by removing any debris plus loosening topsoil layer before gently placing newly purchased bulbs within desired area – finally cover with additional soil plus water thoroughly after planting process has been completed successfully!.
Rejuvenating Existing Plants
Sometimes existing plants need rejuvenating due nutrient deficiencies or incorrect cultural practices – signs include discoloured foliage plus weak stems – diagnosing problem correctly first before attempting treatment will save both time plus money so always investigate issue properly first before attempting any amendments – most common causes include pH imbalance (too acidic/alkaline), nutrient deficiencies (most commonly nitrogen/potassium) plus incorrect watering regimes (too little/much!)– correcting each issue correctly will help revive existing plants back into full health so don’t give up just yet!.
Conclusion
In conclusion, taking care of your day lilly once it has finished flowering involves several steps including pruning, deadheading, staking and fertilizing among many others – each step plays an important role in keeping plant healthy so make sure you follow instructions carefully each step along way – finally remember regular watering plus keeping weeds under control also plays an integral role too so don’t forget about these either!. With correct cultural practices followed correctly each season then there’s no reason why your beloved plant won’t flourish year after year bringing plenty colour joy into garden too!.