If you’re wondering what to plant in summer, try daylilies
The daylily is a steadfast flower of summer. Even if you don’t know them by name, you’ve likely seen these trumpet-like flowers planted along highways. Even on the side of a road, a daylily will pump out blooms for three whole weeks, and they’ll return for years to come. In short, daylilies are what to plant in summer if you’re looking for a charming, low-maintenance perennial.
The landscaping experts at Borst Landscape & Design have deep and detailed knowledge of flowers, shrubs and trees suited to our northern New Jersey climate. If you’re trying to decide what to plant in summer, call us today at (201) 989-0902 or request a quote online.
Daylilies Have Range
Daylily flowers come in many more colors beyond the standard yellow and orange. Their color palette ranges from scarlet to pale lavender, deep grape to champagne pink. Texture varies, too. Some cultivars have flowers with smooth petal edges, others are ruffled. For a luscious effect, “double daylilies” have twice the typical amount of petals.
The versatility of daylilies allows them to complement any garden. Better still, daylilies can tolerate many different growing conditions. As beauty and resilience are concerned, daylilies are on the A-list of what to plant in summer. Partial shade to full sun will suit them just fine — although, with less light comes fewer flowers. Planting times are somewhat flexible. In the spring when the plant is still dormant, you can plant the bare root. Come summer, it’s best to plant potted daylilies.
Daylilies can be quite drought-resistant once they are established, but they do prefer moist soil. Short of a bog, daylilies can handle conditions as wet as drainage ditches. Their strong root systems can also help prevent erosion. If you’re wondering what to plant in summer on a steep slope, for example, daylilies would make a great option.
This Low-Maintenance Perennial Keeps on Giving
Daylilies multiply through the years. Planted a foot apart, daylilies will gradually fill out the gaps between them. If you’re tired of weed whacking around fence posts, a row of daylilies could save you some time. In addition to making a lovely border under fences or along border walls, their dense foliage shades out weeds beneath them.
For optimum health, daylilies should be divided every 3-5 years. Dig up the roots in early spring or late summer and divide them into clumps with three or more fans of leaves attached. After dividing, you can expand your daylily brood to other areas of your property. If your yard is at max daylily capacity, extra roots make great gifts or they could simply be discarded.
Turns Out They’re Tasty
In your search for what to plant in summer, were you considering adding an edible plant to your yard? Believe it or not, daylilies (Hemerocallis fulva) have edible flowers and roots. Buds sautéed in butter have a flavor similar to asparagus.
Important note: Daylilies you intend to eat must be treated like any other vegetable in your home garden. They should never be consumed in conditions where they could become contaminated with vehicle exhaust or pesticides.
Want Other Ideas on What to Plant in Summer?
Thank you for going on this deep daylily dive with us. At Borst Landscape & Design, we consider every aspect of the plants we cultivate so that we can tailor our landscaping to the needs of your property.
If you’re curious about other plants which may suit your yard, reach out to the experts at Borst Landscape & Design. Call (201) 989-0902 or request a quote online today.
Image by Philip Walenga from Pixabay