Every growing season I look forward to buying 10-15 new daylilies. As excited as I get to purchase new plants, it creates a dilemma because I don't want to make my garden spaces any larger. Believe me, I have enough weeding to do with the gardens as they are. If I want more daylilies, I need some empty spaces. Each spring I have to make the dreaded decisions...which plants go?
Asking these questions helps me decide:
Okay, now I'm good to go...my coffee cup is full and I have a set of criteria. Time to make a list, and start the process of culling my collection -- Wish me luck!
(Pictured is "Leebea Orange Crush." This was one of my hardy starter daylilies I culled in 2013. I enjoyed growing it for many years and just wanted to try something different.)
Asking these questions helps me decide:
- What colors do I have too many of? I LOVE vibrant orange daylilies, consequently I have many.
- Do I have too many similar bloom shapes? Daylilies come in such a variety of bloom shapes. I like to diversify.
- Do I have two cultivars that look similar? If yes, I toss a coin and keep only one (usually the newer one).
- When does it bloom? I want consistent bloom throughout the season and not have all my daylilies blooming in midseason.
- What's currently trending for me? At one time I liked dainty miniatures. Now I like large UFO (Unusual Form) daylilies that stand out from a distance. The bigger the better. No bending over while deadheading either!
- Do I just not like the daylily? As they say, "one person's trash is another person's treasure." Luckily we all don't like the same things. Someone else may love a plant I feel ambivalent about. In my case, I may not have adequate afternoon shade for some cultivars.
- Is a daylily unhappy in my garden? Sometimes (not often) I encounter a plant that will not thrive in my yard even after repeated location transplants. At that time it goes to a new home. Sometimes that's all it takes.
- Am I just tired of a certain daylily? If I've grown it for 10-15 years I might want to try something new.
Okay, now I'm good to go...my coffee cup is full and I have a set of criteria. Time to make a list, and start the process of culling my collection -- Wish me luck!
(Pictured is "Leebea Orange Crush." This was one of my hardy starter daylilies I culled in 2013. I enjoyed growing it for many years and just wanted to try something different.)
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