I have always used the osmocote to fertilize my DLs, but a good friend of mine told me years ago that she used triple 13 in the early spring to give hers a boost. I am curious if anyone uses triple 13 to fertilize their DLs and I wondered how much to apply.

Thanks
Genna

I have used 13-13-13 and it seemed to work fine. I have used 10-10-10 and it also seemed to work just as well. I have used a little Osmocote, but it was too expensive for me, but it also seemed to work alright. Now having said that, I don't really know that any fertilizer was required and if the fertilizer was more for my benefit than the plants. I am currently using some discounted fertilizer I bought at Walmart (29-0-4). I also like to use milorganite . I tend to think nitrogen is the main ingredient my plants are lacking, but I have no proof of that. By far the most used additive to my soil would be leaves and grass clippings, I also feel because of the huge amount of these added each year the extra dose of nitrogen is useful. I think a lot of daylily growers use some sort of commercial lawn fertilizer, mostly because of the cost factor. I guess what I am trying to say is that there is an almost unlimited source of different ingredients to feed your plants. I have used cotton seed meal, alfalfa, chicken manure and other things and none of them seemed to harm the plants in any way. How much good they actually did is still a question in my mind.
As far as how much to apply that depends on a lot of things, better to use less than too much in my opinion. I always just sprinkled a little around the plant, maybe a tablespoon full or two per plant depending on the size of the clump.

I mostly use time release fertilizers such as Osmcote, Osmcote Plus (has micronutrients), Nutricote, and Miracle-Gro All Purpose Shake-n-Feed (12-4-8). I have learned the hard way NOT to fertilize, at least the potted plants, during the summer (can you say "rot"?). (Sadly... it is a lesson that I keep needing negative reinforcement on. )

On the seedling beds (which are on drip irrigation), the beds are originally made with one of the time release fertilizers, as well as alfalfa meal and Maximize (Ca/Fe/Mg mineral supplement). At the beginning of each year (or when the bed is redone), I redo the alfalfa meal and minerals, but otherwise I liquid fertilize, and try to do that on a weekly basis at least until mid May or so. (I fertilize the seedlings this way based on my interpretation/adaptation of stuff that Fred posted wrt his seedlings - thanks, Fred. ) What I use for liquid fertilizer varies... sometimes it is a fertilizer in a 3-1-2 ratio (but higher rating), sometimes it is Maxsea 16-16-16 seaweed fertilizer.

I'm not sure that I can say that I see a difference between a "balanced" (10-10-10, 16-16-16, etc.) fertilizer and a 3-1-2 ratio (which is what was recommended by Dan Trimmer). You might be interested in what he has to say, though, about fertilizing: http://www.ctdaylily.com/trimm...

Thanks for that info!

Poly, I was at Dan's yesterday and he sold me a 1/4 bag of 360 Nutricote to use in July when it's hot. He says it won't hurt plants because it releases so slowly. He said to add a big handful to each plant. For the past 5 yr I've been using Suncote 9-mo., plus slow release palm fertilizer and Plant-tone (organic) mix on my daylilies in mid- to late February as an annual feed. Dan urged me to try the Nutricote and I will. On some plants that aren't on my must have list so if they falter and fizzle I won't be upset.

On a side note. We built our raised boxes in 2005. In 2006 I had massive losses of plants in the corners of the boxes and along the edges. I immediately lined the boxes with ceramic floor tiles that were 8" tall and maybe 15" long. To this day those tiles are in place and masses of snails live in that space between the tiles and the edges of the boxes. The boxes are highly weathered and fairly old now. As I was waking up this morning, I decided to remove some tiles (at last!!!) and see what happens. Now you know what I think of I move from sleep to action. I know at least I will have fewer snails!!! I can't believe whatever that was toxic in the treatment of those boards still remains. Not a scientist, but fairly certain that the tiles are no longer needed. When the wind dies down I will have the wonderful job of removing them!! That means that next fall when I add soil, I can add 3" more soil because the tiles are gone. This is all good!