Planting for Summer Color: Gladiolus and Daylilies

How about these colors in your garden -- apricot, red, orange, yellow, burgundy, white, blue, pink and gold? April is the month for planting summer flowering bulbs such as Gladiolus and Daylilies.

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How about these colors in your garden—apricot, red, orange, yellow, burgundy, white, blue, pink and gold? April is the month for planting summer flowering bulbs such as Gladiolus and Daylilies.

Gladiolus

These showy flowers bloom mid-summer, though you can prolong the bloom time by planting early, mid and late season types. They reach heights of 2 to 6 feet. They like full sun, well-drained soil and shelter from the wind.

Planting Guide

  • plant corms (the bulb) after all danger of frost and soil has warmed
  • loosen the soil to 12 inches; mix in some compost
  • dig 4 inches deep; set corm pointed end facing up, cover it with soil
  • don’t remove the tunic (outer papery layer)
  • space corms 6 inches apart
  • water thoroughly
  • blooms begin 12 weeks after planting

Spring Maintenance

  • stake tall varieties at planting time
  • keep soil mulched to prevent drying
  • under-fertilizing is better than over-fertilizing
  • remove faded flowers; cut back stalks when all flowers are gone
  • don’t cut foliage back; this keeps plants healthy

Fall Care

  • dig corms before first frost
  • cure for a week in warm location
  • remove old bottom corms; store large, new corms in room 35-45 degrees
  • replant in the spring

Daylilies

These perennials are rugged and vigorous; they’ll remain in gardens for many years with little or no care. They adapt to a wide range of soil and light conditions, establish quickly and over-winter easily. There are over 50,000 cultivars.

Daylilies are not true lilies. They belong to the genus Hemerocallis, Greek for “day” and “beauty.” Typically, the flowers last a day. Each plant produces several stalks with flowers opening over an extended period. Flowers continue during summer heat.

Planting Guide

  • they love full sun (but partial shade isn’t objectionable)
  • plant when the ground can be worked—spring, summer, fall
  • install 8 to 12 inches apart, though they don’t mind being crowded

Maintenance

  • add a few inches of mulch to keep soil moist
  • add Yum Yum Mix fertilizer, spring or fall
  • keep soil moist
  • divide and replant every 3-5 years (some clumps stay happy 15 years)

Both of these flowers—Gladiolus and Daylilies—look nice in borders or mixed in the perennial beds. Both are excellent as cut flowers. They are easy and add color and texture to any garden.