I like well composted horse manure....the best! Course i'm cheap and so is it...:) Can't beat Free and all ready Aged!

All organic material such as hay, manure, that feed the soil.

I've read "water is the best fertilizer".
I've read also that daylilies aren't heavy feeders, and I haven't fertilized mine and they bloom well in so-so soil.

Welcome to the Forum! Daylilies aren't heavy feeders,but they do appreciate a shot of fertilizer in the spring if you are not going to add organics like manure. I use Miracle Grow for flowering plants.

I would recommend a soil test. It will tell you if you need to add a fertilizer or just a particular nutrient if any. Adding organic material is great, but add the appropriate ratio of greens to browns (like making compost).
Ed

Here in South Dakota
The soil naturally contains high levels of Phosphorus and Potassium.
The only fertilizer needed here for farming or gardening is nitrogen - compost, manure or store bought.
Also, unlike nitrogen, Phosphus and Potassium stay in the soil, so we need to be careful with fertilizer that are high in P and K, because they tend to build up to imbalances in the soil over time.

I would second doing a soil test before adding fertilizer to know what you need.

I found that out the hard way here in Tn. I had a soil test done last fall. The phosphorus and potassium levels were extremely high. My ag agent recommended using only nitrogen for at least a couple of years. I garden in red clay (with additives) and it takes a long time for Phos and Potas. to wash out of the soil. And like southdakota, I also found out later that our soils here in Tn are naturally high in those elements. Someone in my club told me that they actually used to mine for phosphorus around this area.

Miorganite, and it keeps the deer away for awhile too!

Horse and cow manure composted, 10-10-10,mericle grow there are a few ,others .I use some in the spring some in the fall or it depends whats going on in the garden Isuppose a good compost is best with manure tea next.

Miorganite mixed with 4 month time-release bloom formula in late Spring (2nd week of May here). 50 Lb. Miorganite with 5 lb. bloom formula approx. 1 cup per plant.

Lilynut, what kind of time release? That sounds like a good idea.

Thanks, everyone. I probably should have said that I have grown daylilies for many years. Our (now defunct) daylily club members always said fertilize 3 times a year. I do well to do it once a year. I am a big fan of composted manure, and use it as a soil amendment. One year I used pelleted chicken manure, but it drew flies very badly and my husband hated the smell. Last year I used cottonseed meal. My daylilies are always lovely, but you know how it is. Somebody else's always seem to look better.

You're exactly right about a soil test. I have never had one done here at this house. My old garden across town was indeed high in Phosporous and Potassium, and low in Nitrogen. Need to get on it.

I have never used the time released fertilizers on daylilies, but that makes sense. I have read about Milorganite, but not sure I can find it around here. I just thought someone might have some surefire things like Rose Tone is for Roses. Will stay tuned if anyone else chimes in.

We use Color Burst that Home Depot has. It's a 4 month formula.

Thanks Lilynut, I think I'll try that myself this year. I have in the past only used the Milorganite in the Spring, what you are doing makes sense.

Could someone tell me if Milorganite has a shelf life? I have some that is more than 4 yrs old and wonder if I can still use this? Would it still do some good? Thanks!

Milorganite can be used even if stored for many years. If it gets wet though, you won't want to keep it in storage. It really stinks!

Thanks carmen grower 2007. I will try it on half of my bed and see if it makes a difference.

I use the Hooker formula, which I was introduced to on this forum. I have seen a substantial change in the health and color of my daylilies' foliage and blooms. You can do a search for the recipe on this site. It is a liquid formula, and a bit labor intensive to mix and apply if you have many daylilies, but worth it, in my opinion.
Susan

I am new to daylilies. Where can I get Miorganite?
Thanks

I should state that I don't use Milorganite as a fertilizer (although it is a time-release fertilizer) I sprinkle it around the perimeter of my beds twice a season to deter deer.

My only fertilizer comes from decomposing mulch and whatever the chickens decide to contribute. Also, we had herds of deer all over the property all winter and they left a ton of little brown bee-bees.

You can find Miorganite at Sevice Star hardware store, Home Depot, or Lowe's around these parts.

lilynut,
Thanks.

A local daylily grower told me he uses Monty's Joy Juice. Has anyone here tried it? I am a fan of composted manure or just compost I've cooked in my pile of leaves, kitchen waste, grass, etc. However it takes bags and bags to cover my area. I still plan to add in order to feed the soil but I admit I'm curious about the liquid fertilizer. The other thing I'm considering this year is Bayer Rose 2-1 fertilizer and pest control. I use it on my roses and conifers to control aphids and spider mite. I am thinking about using it on my daylilies this year to control thrips which did some damage last year to my red and purple daylilies.