I am wondering if fall care for daylilies in Texas, especially zone 8a is any different than anywhere else. I know you're not supposed to encourage top growth, but it seems to me that a root stimulator would be a good idea. The fall is supposed to be a good time to plant perenials, and any time you plant something you want the roots to get a good start, right? I'm wondering if Epsom salts or liquid seaweed or something like that would be a good idea.
Getting Daylilies ready for winter in Tx
silver, I am so bad about doing whatever, whenever. About a month ago I cut all the daylilies back serverely.....need to add these are old fashioned ditch lillies....don't know if that would make a difference. Anyway, made a new bed and moved all of them. They are so lush right now you would never believe they have been treated so badly. I am in the process of moving and potting, and digging and moving. Afterwards I will lightly sprinkle dry ES all around the beds and water good. My understanding is that ES is mainly beneficial to the roots. I am a trial and error sort of person so wouldn't want you to take my advice as gospel.
I apply 1/2 c of ES and some time released fertilizer in the fall and that's it. I also clean away weeds, though I don't have much of a problem w/ that because I keep them well mulched. In the earlly spring, if I'm up to it, I give them a severe haircut, but this is not necessary. At that time i also apply some more slow release fert. I spray w/ Messenger though I must confess I wasn't as disciplined in 2007. I noticed a great diff. so I will be more religious w/ messenger next season.
IME, fall has been the best time to plant, though I plant a few in the spring. most of the DLs I have lost were planted in the summer so I no longer do that.
I think DLs are so well loved universally because they are so low maint.
I keep seeing "Messenger" turn up in various posts. Where do you buy it?
LouC I'm pretty much like you. I know I need to fertilize my roses 3 times year, but that summer feeding just never seems to happen. And I don't spray for black spot like I should either. But I keep trying.:) I guess that's why I'm developing an interest in dl, because they have much fewer problems.
Vossner, do your dl bloom all through summer? Mine never have and I am amazed at the threads where people are talking about what's blooming now. Mine quit back in spring. I hope I have some now that will bloom later. I guess I need to concentrate on buying the late bloomers. Maybe that needs to be a new thread.
That's good idea, Silver. Then you will get the people that are really interested in that.
I would like to know myself. Mine bloomed in the middle of the summer for about 10 days and that was it. I guess by moving them they won't bloom at all next summer.
No, they don't bloom all summer. That is the reason why I posted on the DL forum inquiring about one certain cultivar which had (and still is!) blooming at least 1 flower a day. It appears that for a combination of reasons, a cultivar will behave that way but may not do it again and in subsequent seasons some other DL will take center stage in this respect.
Thanks to info I learned in the DL forum, I make it a point to buy rebloomers, and in my garden that usually means I will have a nice, constant show in May and then, throughout the season, I will have a flower blooming here and there, every other week. I also buy, early, middle and late blooms so I can have a more steady show, instead of one big show and then NOTHING.
So, silver, on a slow day, you can research your daylilies (if you keep a record of the varieties you have) and find out which are/are not rebloomers. Maybe you have no rebloomers and they are behaving just exactly like they're supposed to, a one time show.
LouC, messenger has been discussed widely on daves. Do a forum search and you will find great discussions about what it is, how well it performed on what plants, who's used it, etc. You also do a regular google on it
My short take on Messenger is: buy this magic potion and watch your plants thrive.
Byzantine Emperor was blooming in July.
LouC-
Here is a link to the website where I bought mine http://www.edenbio.com/garden/
There have been some great discussions on the rose forum regarding the product. I'll try to find the most outstanding thread that includes detailed explanations of the product.
My experience-difficult to say, I used it for the first time this spring on mostly roses to prevent Bspot. This spring was the rainiest of all time, so Bspot was definitely an issue this year. However, all the plants I sprayed messenger on have done well. The product is reasonably priced (bought $30 worth of packets) and it's easy to use.
Here is the really thorough messenger thread.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/577362/
Thank you very much. Going to check it out now.