Day Lilles

Novice23 · September 2021

I have a large area of Day Lilies which are a glorious golden yellow throughout end of May to beginning of July. They flower well and look great, but once they have finished they are just strap leaves which look scruffy. I have tended to cut the leaves down and plant things around them, usually Dahlias. I am no good with the tubers etc, so tend to either buy them each spring or I have grown them from seed, treating them like bedding plants. However I wondered whether there was anything that I could plant which would be a permanent plant. I have tried with Salvias, but they do not always last to the next year, so I am back to taking cuttings and replanting each July.

I wondered whether Japanese Anemones might fit the bill. They tend to be late flowering, so after the Day Lilies have gone over, but would they thrive with the potential lack of light whilst the DL are in flower.

I am gardening on heavy clay and the area was once a pond, but I have no idea whether the original pond base, which I think was probably concrete, is still there. I believe it was quite deep, but the area is always dry so I suspect not. I do mulch, with leaf mould when it is ready, or with compost and feed the area in spring with FBM. Also feed throughout the year with liquid seaweed, tomato fertilizer or Richard Jackson's FLower Power.

Any advice, suggestions or thoughts would be very welcome. I am a novice gardener who is trying to get into having plants/flowers throughout the season but do struggle as I am not that good at this. If planting Dahlias once the DL have finished is the best option, then I will continue with that.

Many thanks folks. (And apologies for any spelling mistakes, etc)

daylilier · September 2021

Hello. I live in the US(USDA zone 5). I also plant daffodils, lilies, siberian irises and phlox paniculata with my daylilies. Daylilies tend to take over if you don't keep them divided. You can cut the foliage down once the straps start turning yellow.

Fairygirl · September 2021

Japanese anemones will certainly work - the whites in particular. There are loads of types, some of the semi doubles are particularly good

They don't need lots of food - neither do most day lilies, but adding organic matter is the best way to keep the soil in good condition, instead of chemical feeds.
You can add spring bulbs too, to lengthen the season @Novice23. Daffs/narcissus and there are loads more. Tulips won't be so good if it's shady.
That will make it all an easier border to maintain.

Dahlias prefer a nice warm, sunny site with loads of food and water, whereas all of those need very little. You'd be better keeping those for another site.

Novice23 · April 2022

Somewhat belated reply to this post. Thanks Fairygirl. I do have some Japanese Anemones elsewhere in the garden, so might try taking some cuttings and see how they fare. I do transfer the bulbs that I grow in pots one year into the garden the following year so that will work too. I have given up on the Dahlias as although I love them, especially the Bishop's Children, they are quite needy and have to be lifted. I prefer things that can just stay in the ground and get on with it. A bit lazy but also somewhat senior and arthritic.

Thanks again for your thoughts.

GardenerSuze · April 2022

@Novice23 Japanese Anemones always look strong robust and easy to move but when they are transplanted they really sulk. I carefully take as much root as I can and plant immediately. The white forms are by far the best. Some of the pinks are real thugs. I have spent years digging one out in my garden.

Obelixx · April 2022

I'd have thought that come August you'd do well with things like rudbeckia, heleniums or asters such as Michaelmas daisies.

Japanese anemones can be either fussy or thuggish. I love them and don't mind but have never had them try to take over and find the white ones hard to get going both in my last garden on fertile alkaline loam with plenty of rain and in this garden which has a mixture of neutral soils and a lot of drought.

GardenerSuze · April 2022

@Novice23 If you want to try moving some white Japanese anemone, I would have a go now. Probably not all will survive but worth a try.
I think my pink one is Queen Charlotte which can escape under walls and into your neighbours garden. It can have a root as thick as your wrist.

JennyJ · April 2022

My Bishop's Children dahlias stay in the ground. They're a bit later flowering than they would be if they'd been lifted and then started indoors, but if your soil is reasonably free-draining and doesn't get flooded/waterlogged in winter, it might be worth a try for the price of a packet of seed.

Novice23 · April 2022

Thanks for all this. I will certainly try leaving my Bishops Children in the ground this year if I can get some seeds now. The soil doesn't flood where I want them so hope it might work. Should I mulch them?

Will also have another go with Japenese Anenomes, they have kind of taken elsewhere in the garden. Only white ones at the moment, might stay with them.

Also like the idea of Daisies, so will think about them as well. Thank you all so much.

JennyJ · April 2022

I sometimes just pull a pile of fallen leaves over my Dahlias after they die down, but sometimes I forget. Every year there's a bit of will they or won't they reappear but so far they have. No sign of new growth this year yet but it's still cold at nights.

Novice23 · April 2022

Thanks JennyJ, that is my kind of gardening!

Day Lilles

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