I have never been a fan of using fertilizer but I know I am probably among the very few who think that way. Having a change of heart, I'm asking for suggestions of how best to amend the soil in which my loyal daylilies find themselves. ALL tips appreciated!

Dave, I don't fertilize either. I do amend as I plant, usually with some kind of natural compost. Do a simple soil test. Fill a glass jar about 1/3 to 1/2 full of dirt. Fill with water. Leave a little bit of room for good shaking action. Shake. Then let everything settle- it'll take a few hours. The dirt will fall out largest to smallest particles. So sand and gravel at the bottom, then clay and silt at the top of the dirt. Organic matter floats.

Then a soil nutrient test, for N-P-K and pH. Get a kit from any bog box hardware store. Your soil might be better than you think.

I'd start with adding organic matter, as most gardens need more. It contains a lot of nutrients and it helps with water holding capacity and drainage both.

When we moved here about 5 years ago I was faced with a large flowerbed in the middle of the drive way with only a few clumps of liriope. My husband and I spent time and money planting grasses. They died. The next year I spent more time and money. I planted "tough" perennials: coneflowers, blanket plants, bergenia, mondo grass..... They died.

Two years ago as I stood and looked at the barren bed, it occurred to my slow brain that there were not even weeds growing, except around the edges.

I have since put pounds and pounds of compost in the bed. I now have daylilies, coneflowers, daisies and, yes, weeds.

I do fertilize. We put some 10 10 10 on it every six weeks or so.

If you think you need it, go gently. Soil tests are a very good idea. But, IMO, good compost is like magic. I put a generous helping in every hole that I dig. And I scatter it around the daylily bed.