I have some fertilizer I spray on in the spring with the hose every few years, but for the most part the pine needles I mulch with work their way into the soil and keeps things good. But water is the main thing as Mantis said.

I have never fertilized before this year. This spring I put down alfalfa pellets and fertilizer that is supposed to boost blooms? I have fertilized before, but never really noticed a difference. This year I have larger blooms on several plants, and more increase in fans it seems. Due to all the rain, or the fertilizer? I don't know, but we had almost as wet a season last year and did not do this, but last year we had that late freeze to contend with. Main reason I fertilized is that I get crown rot every summer after bloom and lose several plants. Thought is that the stronger the plant is maybe the less I lose? We'll see soon.

I very rarely add any fertilizer, but, agree with mantis. Mulch very well, and if you don't get rain Water, Water...Itis the best fertilizer and they want more thn you would think...and inch and a half a week and more if it is hot and dry. If I do fertilize (it has been at least 3 years) I use fish emulsion or alfalfa meal usually and it has to be very late because I am in the south.

kay

I may be confused (it happens), but this is what I posted under Dick's header on the subject. It may actually be what you were asking about. So sorry for the repeat if I'm babbling on:

I don't know what your soil chemistry is, but around here one of the better natural fertilizers is Cotton Burr Compost, which you can also use as a mulch (which I do). It is more pricey then pine bark mulch but adds nutrients to the soil instead of depleting them. A lot of people were using mushroom compost, but the product they sell has already had the nutrients leached out of it by the companies who were growing mushrooms in it. It may sound good, but isn't as good as Cotton Burr Compost.....Just a suggestion to start with.............Maryl - (see link below)

Re: Cotton Burr Compost

We do use fertilizer, as daylilies are strong feeders. Our Soil and Water people ran an analysis on our soil and recommended a fertilizer high in nitrogen - something like 12 - 0- 4. Our soil does not need phosphates, nor does the environment. The daylilies, with all the rain and our fertile soil, look wonderful this year.