Daylilies – Fertilizing

Q: Is April the time to fertilize daylilies?

A: The general rule of thumb is to fertilize plants when they are most vigorously growing, which would be late March through early April for daylilies. Since most time-release fertilizers depend on warm soil to release nutrients, I recommend you use a tablespoon of 10-10-10 per plant now, followed by the label-recommended amount of time-release fertilizer. Water it in thoroughly so the 10-10-10 can get to work in the plant. Fertilize again with 10-10-10 or with a liquid fertilizer as the last blooms fade in summer. This will stimulate new growth, assuming you water regularly, and may induce new flowers a month later.