Lawn Guardian

Daylily Care Guide

Hemerocallis spp.

perennialZones 3–10deer resistant

Reliable, carefree perennial with trumpet-shaped flowers in almost every color except blue. Each bloom lasts one day but plants produce dozens of buds over weeks.

At a glance

Season-by-season care

Spring

Clean up old foliage Early spring

Remove dead leaves from last year. New growth emerges early. Pull or cut off brown leaves.

Divide crowded clumps Early spring

If bloom performance has declined, dig and divide clumps. Replant divisions at original depth.

Summer

Snap off spent blooms Daily during bloom

Remove yesterday's wilted flowers (deadhead) by snapping the stem below the spent bloom for tidy appearance.

Remove spent scapes When scape is finished

After all buds on a stem have bloomed, cut the entire flower scape to the base.

Fall

Cut back foliage after frost After frost

Cut yellowed foliage to 2 inches after killing frost. Some gardeners leave it for winter protection.

Never miss a daylily care window again

Lawn Guardian turns this guidance into a schedule timed to your USDA zone and this week's actual weather — and adapts every time you log what you've done.

Get your free plan

Related plants

Sources: Purdue University Turfgrass Science: Use Growing Degree Days to Better Time Your Applications · University of Missouri Extension: Cool-Season Grasses: Lawn Maintenance Calendar · University of Minnesota Extension: Pre-emergent Herbicides for Crabgrass Control in Lawns