Hemerocallis - Day Lillies

ERICS_MUM

I've got 3 clumps of diff colours but none of them thrives, so I would welcome some advice on how I can "help them along". I really want to save them because new plants are so expensive.

The problems are lots of soft, yellowing leaves, few flowers and what flowers they do produce are deformed and die before opening. I can't see any grubs or other nasties on the leave and flowers (not inspected the roots) and I don't think they are part of the true lily family so shouldn't be affected by lily beetle.

I've got a south-facing garden in East Anglia and I'm wondering how much sun they do best in, do they like lots of water, do they need a lot of food, are they prone to some sort of pest or disease etc ?

The clumps measure roughly 6, 8 and 10 inches across at their bases. Is this too big, should I divide them and at what time of year ?

I've read about them in gardening books and on-line articles but can't find specific instructions.

would be grateful for any help from those of you with perfect plants !!

Thanks as always

EM.

Elsewhere

I have a couple of varieties of Day Lilies in my garden and the pesky things grow like weeds - the clumps are at least a metre across. I do absolutely mothing to encourage them - no compost, no manure etc. Garden is south facing.

I think this question has come up before and the only thing that I can think is responsible is the type of soil, and maybe the climate. I am on the South coast in Dorset, so not too cold in winter usually - but it has been occasionally, and it's not killed them...

So probably the soil. Our garden is heavy clay - go down a foot to the subsoil and it looks and slices like Red Leicester cheese. The topsoil is like toffee in winter and brick in summer. I can only assume the Day Lilies like it. If you are in East Anglia, you've probably got a light loam...

I am happy to swop a lorry load of soil with you - I'd love to be able to dig a hole for a new shrub without the aid of hammer and chisel!!!! And your Day Lilies would be the wonder of East Anglia.

demystified

The clumps are quite small by the sounds of it, they do like sunshine though they won't flower in shade.

Whats the soil like? Not waterlogged during the winter? They're almost totally disease and pest free in my experience.

Something is up, not quite sure what though.

I_have_spoken

flowers they do produce are deformed and die before opening

That suggests a virus from aphids or thrips.

http://www.mikesbackyardgarden.org/daylilypest.html

Aphids are a common pest in most gardens and daylilies are not immune to their sap sucking habits. The first sign to look out for is a yellowing of the leaves, buds and blooms may also become deformed.

Thrips are one of the most common pest of daylilies, These small winged insects bore into the buds and suck out the liquid within. The wounds bleed and the liquid makes the petal stick together so the flower cannot open properly

jules-2005

Heavy clay here in East Anglia and they thrive in the sunshine. I don't do anything to them except remove the dead flowers.