What to Do With Daylilies in Fall?

Daylilies are known for being versatile and hardy. Their reputation is that of being low maintenance and they are a great flower choice for beginner gardeners. They are originally from Asia but have adapted to temperatures and the various weather conditions in the United States–just one example of their versatility. Daylilies are perennials. The fall weather brings in the cold, which is best for planting daylily seeds, but not for blooms. As a result, fall is clean-up time for daylilies.

Bloom

• According to Great Garden Plants, daylilies fall into the following bloom categories: early bloomer, June (early summer); midseason, July (mid-summer); and late, August to September (late summer). When early October rolls around, the daylilies are dry, brown and crunchy, similar to the leaves you rake on your lawn. It’s best to prune daylilies when this happens.

Pruning

• With daylilies, the best pruning time is fall. As their growing season comes to an end, the flowers, stems and other foliage will start to decay and die. Prune by removing any brown or dead parts of the flower. For daylilies, this can include the stem, leaving only the soil behind. According to HGTV, removal of the faded foliage in fall might be preferred if there have been pest or disease problems during the past season. Doing so would reduce the chance of the problem wintering over and recurring next year.