The rule of thumb seems to be that daylilies need one inch of rain or the equivalent in other watering per week. This makes sense during the "growing season." The growing season would be from first signs of growth through bloom, not ignoring hybridizers but it's simpler this way.

So, what should our watering regimen be for the warm resting season, the cool fall, the winter, and early spring before signs of growth?

Charley

Charlemagne said:The rule of thumb seems to be that daylilies need one inch of rain or the equivalent in other watering per week. This makes sense during the "growing season." The growing season would be from first signs of growth through bloom, not ignoring hybridizers but it's simpler this way.

This rule of thumb can be misleading - my experience shows: it depends!
If your soil is loam full of nutrients like the garden of my best daylily friend - or if your garden is situated on gravel like mine; and it depends on the average temperatures because evaporation is different - my friend's garden is in a cooler alpine climate, my own in a quite hot influenced by mediterrenian climate.

Charlemagne said:So, what should our watering regimen be for the warm resting season, the cool fall, the winter, and early spring before signs of growth?

Charley

I can only say: look at your plants during growth season - they will show you if they like the amount of water they get. In our garden our irrigation system is not able to compensate the missing rain even if its turned on every morning and every evening. In the hot months our cistern is empty for weeks and to water with drinking water from the general water supply system here is expensive.

We can not use our irrigation system in winter when it freezes - two years ago we had a very dry fall and winter and in spring many daylilies were not able to come into leaf as usual - some did not survive and from all of the daylilies (dormant, semi-evergreens and evergreens) here half of the cultivars didn't flower at all and the ones that flowered hat only a few buds.

After this bad winter I can confirm: daylilies definitely need water during the non-growing season too!

Thank you for your response! Every garden is different and I am hoping to hear from other gardeners as well.

Charley

Charlemagne said:Thank you for your response! Every garden is different and I am hoping to hear from other gardeners as well.

Charley

Thanks for the acorn and

Watering year round in colder climates is really not an option. Usually after they finish flowering, they are on their own, unless I'm establishing new plants. Last summer was so dry that I watered daily from June through October. This season was so wet that after June, I haven't watered at all. But either way, after October, the hoses would freeze and burst. You have to wait until May to set it all up again.

Zoia said: But either way, after October, the hoses would freeze and burst. You have to wait until May to set it all up again.

This depends on the system you use. We are able to turn on our irrigation system if there is only frost at night - it is self-emptying if you turn it off and nothing bursts. But we can not use it if the days are frosty too - which is a bad situation after a dry summer and fall when winter turns out to be frosty and dry too.