Most plants do not need fertilization, especially new ones. Especially high nitrogen which encourages a lot of leafy growth, often at the expense of flowers.

But not on daylilies. Research shows that daylilies will thrive and bloom at over 300% of the recommended nitrogen application rate. We have experienced that in our own garden. My wife, Patricia Henley, Ph.D , has quoted the research to me and suggested the second application on the new daylilies (this is a slow release fertilizer). Her Ph.D is in Horticulture. You may have seen her articles in The Daylily Journal.

This has been my experience with daylilies. Perhaps I will test this with my fall purchases. Unfortunately the test population will be small.

Our daylilies look great too. They came through our harsh winter much better than we expected. Even the southern bred ones look good for the most part. Amazingly enough, the southerns look better this year than they did last when we had a mild winter. It seems like they dislike the constant freeze thaw cycle more than continued cold weather.

We too use a high nitrogen fertilizer and the daylilies love it.

Nancy

Well, I fertilized all my daylilies earlier this season, just some slow release that said it increased flowering. I suppose I should not add more fertilize now with high nitrogen. I will remember that in the future. I think I have had my daylilies in their beds so long the soil is depleted. Plants just don't seem to do as well as they used to. I have never tended to fertilize, except for mixing in compost when planting.

mine do indeed require some sort of fertilizer. The most important thing is water, however, and they are not getting enough. I water.

kay

Nancy - I have experienced less flowering in some daylilies after the clump gets really large. I don't know if it is lack of water or fertilizer or ???. Here is an opportunity for a long term study.