How to Find the Best Day Lily and Iris Plants in Southern California

It’s late fall, almost winter and living in Southern California means that I can still install landscape designs for my fabulous clients. Thanksgiving has gone and although there are plenty of things to spend money frivolously on people’s budgets today beg for a good value for the hard earned money we have. So this week I am spending time with a wonderful client, Jeannie as we spruce up her already beautiful home by clearing away the weeds and putting in a beautiful, colorful, medium maintenance garden design. We have spent a good deal of time together and she knows that she is going to have to ask for help occasionally and that I am here for her questions.

Monday was the main nursery selection day, and although it was windy – it was beautiful weather and my cart driver and plant puller Freddie was a great help at the growing grounds. I am so lucky to have great people to work with at all the nurseries that I visit.



Yesterday was however my favorite plant pick up day. I have the good fortune of having found Greenwood Day Lily Gardens in Somis, CA. and use them whenever possible. They have the best day lily, iris, canna, and pelargoniums (to name a few) plants around and the drive out to Somis is awesome! Cruising out the 126 with KCRW on the radio, I am in heaven.



It is a stress free beautiful trip and I arrive at my destination relaxed and happy. I am glad to note that John (owner of Greenwood) has his fall piles of mulch ready to be spread around his fields. He is a big proponent of twice yearly mulching and his plants certainly are happier for it.



After a visit with Javier and his pal Bon Bon, I’m headed back home.



But as I pull out of the driveway I spy some beautiful horses walking down a ridge, so I decided to visit. Some of them are quite friendly and I am happy to see that although they may flatten their ears at one another, they are inquisitive enough to see if I might have some food.



After a few minutes petting them and visiting, I am back on the road with my beautiful load of Day Lily, Iris, Geraniums, and a few Pelargoniums that I can use as gifts.

I am SO lucky to be able to spend two hours in the car and actually enjoy every minute of it!

How to Care for Day Lily Plants

Well-established Day lily clumps can produce as many as 400 flowers in a single season. Day lily plants can produce blooms for 30–40 days between early and late summer. By using repeat bloomers and by planting several different cultivars you can have beautiful color spring through summer. There are literally hundreds of different types of day lilies in many colors and shades, some of them even fragrant.

Things You'll Need
Shovel or Fork
Gardening Gloves
Garden Shears

For the best quality flowers, day lilies plants should be grown in full sun, There are however some varieties that will do well in light to medium shade. Consult your landscape professional to find the varieties that are right for your situation.



Day lilies require regular garden water and should fertilized on a regular basis. It is best not to plant them too close to trees and shrubs that will compete with them for nutrients and water. Although Day lilies can tolerate drought, they perform best when they receive a deep watering of an inch of water or more each week. More frequent watering may be necessary if they are planted in sandy soils.

Day lilies grow best in slightly acidic, well-drained soil, which has a high organic content. A ph of 6 to 6.5 might works well. Make sure to amend the soil with lots of rich organic matter and your plants will flourish.

In spring an application compost or a good complete fertilizer is just what the plant doctor ordered. To help the plants through the colder winter months a low nitrogen fertilizer should be applied in the late summer or early fall.

Grooming your Day lily plants will keep them looking good all season (year round in the warm weather areas). Remove the seed capsules after the bloom has faded. This step will prevent seed production. Seed production can weaken your plant and will decrease the number of blooms next year.

Day lily plants should be divided every three to four years. The best time to transplant or divide plants is in early spring or they can be divided right after they finish flowering. In warm weather zones they can also be divided in the fall.

Using a garden fork or shovel dig the entire plant up and rinse off the excess soil.
Gently pull the leaf fans apart by working the roots apart with you hands. If the going gets tough use a tool.

Note: Newly divided plants may not flower the first summer.

Work the roots apart, and if necessary, use a tool. Trim long roots and foliage on divided fans to about 6 inches. Make sure each division has at least three (3) fans. Replant your day lilies and get ready to enjoy the extra color.

Tips & and Warnings:

Cutting the clump with a shovel can damage the crown.
Day Lily plants are poisonous to cats.

For more information see my website www.thegrassisalwaysgreener.net