Larry, I live in a climate that most daylilies thrive in. Not too cold in winter, and pretty hot in the summer (a little shade in the afternoon and most will be fine). So my number keeps rising. I added over a hundred new daylilies this year alone.
Part of that was done while recuperating from two foot surgeries this past winter. Since I had to be out of work and off my foot, I found all these fabulous daylily places to order from. It's like crack for people that don't do drugs!
So rule one: don't sit all winter picking out all the many daylilies you want to order. Set a limit and stick to it.
Rule two: if you are already at your limit, pick out something you already have growing in the garden that you can find a new home for. Maybe it could be one that you don't like the bloom color, the flower doesn't open like it should, it has low bud count, or just doesn't live up to its potential. I give my unwanted ones to friends and coworkers-- they get a pretty plant and I get a spot to put a new dayliliy in
P.S. You can always sell your unwanted DLs here in the classified section:)
Rule three: use some sort of automatic watering system. The Rainbird systems are easy to install and use, or just plain old soaker hoses so that you aren't hand watering.
Rule four: plan your beds so that you can do a little each day. For example, one day may be spent picking yellow/bent/broken leaves. Another day can be spent cutting off old scapes. The next day could be spent doing fertilizer (pellets/milorganite/miracle grow); whatever you use with yours. I use a variety of perennials and some annuals in the daylily beds. Make sure to get plants that are as care-free as possible.
I try to break my yard work into sections that are doable, and stick to it until it's done. It's easy to get distracted and stray to do some thing else, but don't get led off track.
Rule five: take time to enjoy your daylilies! Place some benches or seating arrangements near the DL beds so that when you're taking a break, you're enjoying what you're working for.
I know these are all easier said than done (as I am already working on my next wanted list
) When we moved to our new house we had built, it was a blank canvas. We have 77 acres total, but keep only about five cleared. Our neighbors call our yard the Cochran Golf Course because we have so much grass! I take pleasure in knowing that we (my husband, daughter, and I) have done all the landscaping ourselves, and we think it's beautiful here.
Picture of side bed and front of house
Right side of house that slopes down to koi pond
One of my first mixed beds. As the daylilies finish blooming, the sun coleus grow bigger and provide color until frost.
My front sidewalk
Front entryway
My newest project: connecting a small daylily bed that I started last year to my original bed waaaaay across the front of the yard. The middle section is where all my winter shopping craze daylilies are located. Bet it will be full of color next year!
A snapshot of the koi pond taken from my back deck. We have plans for a pergola over it at some point.
