Daylilies make scapes all year long. When it turns cold and the plant goes dormant the scape point on the crown will wait for warm weather and then produce a new scape. However, while a plant is dormant it is not taking up food. Most fertilizer will move through the soil quickly so fertilizing when a plant cannot take up the nutrients is only putting nitrogen into the water runoff.

There are a lot of old ideas that may have worked in certain situations that then get continued or transfered to a different climate where conditions are different and the concept breaks down. It is OK to fertilize in the fall in climates where the plant continues to grow and does not go dormant but at a reduced rate. In the spring when a plant wakes up and is putting lots of energy into new growth then that is the time they need the nutrients. If you are using organic fertilizer then the bacteria will lock the nitrogen up in their bodies and hold it until the bacteria is consumed and the excess nitrogen is released. So it would work with organics to fertilize in the fall but definately not with chemical fertilizers and in areas where the plants go dormant.

abuot 4 years ago we had a warm spell in Dec on the 3 one of my seedlings bloomed but that was the last time

I'm getting confused.

My lawn fertilization service says that the most important application of the year is the one my lawn receives in the fall. It is called dormant fertilization. It was explained to me that the last application of the year is for root development. Makes sense to me. I wish I could tell you what this application is chemically - probably little, to no nitrogen.

So that leads me to ask if a daylily could benefit from a fall application of fertilizer that would be tailored for root development. I imagine it would be high is phosphorus and some micronutrients.

Any ideas?

Sue in TN

First of all you have to consider when you have "fall". Fall is different in all regions.

It is common practice among many successfuly growers to use a high nitrogen lawn fertilizer in the fall. For me, I consider that to be September - temps have started to cool but I still have about 3 to 3 1/2 months before my daylilies go dormant.

I have never done this but will do it this fall. My plants have been stressed by two years of drought, an early winter in Nov., followed by a big warm up in Dec. and Jan. with a return of winter for six weeks, followed by a very hot spring, and then the Easter week of winter. With the severe hard diebacks, three times, followed by lots of regrowth, I feel my plants could use a boost.

Proper application of fall fertilizer would be when a lawn service applies it in your area.

Brooke

In my opinion, there is no single type of daylily, just as there is no single type of soil. I don't think one can generalize and say one thing is good for every plant or every soil type.
Dormant daylilies do set their buds in the fall but evergreen daylilies are continuously growing and will set their buds when they are mature enough and growing conditions permit.
Sandy soils do not retain nutrients well and must constantly be amended and fertilized. Clay soils retain phosphorous and potassium and there is a danger of building up an excess if you continuously fertilize with them in high amounts. Phosphorous can be toxic to your daylilies in high amounts. There is no need to fertilize unless your soil is deficient in some nutrient. Then add that nutrient only. Nitrogen is a fairly safe nutrient to add but there are different forms and the plant will react differently to each. Adding too much nitrogen may burn your plants foliage if improperly applied or diminish the amount of your bloom if applied at the wrong time.
I urge you to check with your local county agricultural extension office and get their recommendations for your soil types and plants. They can even guide you through the process of getting a soil test done that will tell you exactly what additions your soil would benefit from.
Happy gardening,
Ed

Great advice Ed. Sorry to say most people never bother with a soil test. We did and nitrogen is the one nutrient in our clay soil that needs to be constantly reapplied.

Brooke