How to Use Cedar Chips Around Daylilies

Daylilies are a common and attractive staple in many home gardens and landscapes. These perennial plants grow well and spread prolifically in almost any type of soil. Gardeners typically mulch around the base of daylily plants to protect the roots, especially while the daylilies are in the first year of growth. Cedar chips are an economical and attractive mulch choice for mulching around daylilies.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You’ll Need

• Daylily plants
• Cedar chips
• Gardening gloves
• Shovel
• Garden rake
• All purpose fertilizer (granular)

1. Add the granular fertilizer to the soil around the daylily plants prior to mulching. Follow package recommendations for your growing area. Fertilizer will help keep the daylily supplied with nitrogen after the wood chips are added to the growing area (fresh wood chips leach nitrogen from the soil).
2. Place between 1 and 4 inches of cedar chips around the base of the daylily plants. Not only will cedar chips add attractive color to the landscape under the daylily plants, but it will also help keep the soil moist and will prevent weed growth around the plants. Wear gardening gloves and add the wood chips by hand or use a shovel to place the wood chips around the plants.
3. Use the rake to spread the cedar chips and make them smooth and even.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose to add the higher depth of cedar chips to the growing area if your daylilies grow in a cold climate that freezes over the winter. This is especially important for new daylilies planted in the fall to prepare them for their first winter.