Dennis, it may depend on the daylily, and whether or not it increases fast. I planted mine about a foot apart two years ago, and wish I had spread them out more, as some are crowded now. Others still have plenty of room, because they increase much slower.

Another thing I want to mention is that it seems like a double fan will increase much faster if they aren't divided, and they also seem to bloom better. That is just my experience though. Most all of the daylilies that I've bought that are a double fan or larger have grown much better than the single fans.

Sounds like I probably should plant the double fans together, with no spacing in between, with the hope that they will increase faster that way.

Hopefully others will give their opinion on it as well. That was just my experience. I almost never divide the fans, so they are still stuck together when I plant them. I think if they are already divided, it may not make a difference. Maybe they are just stronger if they are still stuck together? I really have no idea if that is true though! It just seems to be what I have observed. I try to never buy single fans because of this.

If you have never ordered bare root plants before check some of the photos in the forum. Some you receive are huge, others are very tiny. So be prepared to be shocked at the small size of some double fans.

Dennis when I get double fans or more I never divide them before planting. Here they settle in faster in my cold climate garden versus single fans. Although once in awhile I will get a single fan if the cultivar is hard to find. Some daylilies will increase faster than others, also fan size varies from one cultivar to another cultivar just as Larry said.

Another thing I wanted to mention was fertilizing. Many of us use alfalfa pellets, and nothing else. The daylilies love them! I always put a handful in the hole, then toss some dirt over it, to make a barrier between the alfalfa and the roots. After the daylily has been planted, I top dress with it too. I can't believe how much it has improved my soil too. Happy plants, and happy earthworms! I noticed a huge difference in the plants after I started using it, and wouldn't consider anything else now.

Natalie said:Another thing I wanted to mention was fertilizing. Many of us use alfalfa pellets, and nothing else. The daylilies love them! I always put a handful in the hole, then toss some dirt over it, to make a barrier between the alfalfa and the roots. After the daylily has been planted, I top dress with it too. I can't believe how much it has improved my soil too. Happy plants, and happy earthworms! I noticed a huge difference in the plants after I started using it, and wouldn't consider anything else now.

Wow Natalie I would never have thought of alfalfa-- great tip! I will definitely do this thank you so much

Dennis, search this forum for the word alfalfa (search box is in the upper left side)... we had a conversation once about TYPES of alfalfa pellets. Some are better than others.

I do it the same as Natalie suggested. If I buy a double fan and it comes as two separate fan ( sometimes you get more than you ordered, you have heard of Natalie's "Happy Dance", right? ) I most time plant each individual fans in a separate location. Based on our individual experiences we could possibly tell you how certain plants grow in our zone. Fast increaser or not!

Mike,

I use the alfalfa pellets for horses. I think the ones for bunnies has salt or something adding in. I also use non-GMO pellets. I can get a 50 pound bag for less than $15 at the little feed store in town, so it is also cheap!

Last year when I did a major overhaul on my gardens, I used the pellets for the first. I can't wait to see how things look this spring. Between that and the milorganite which I swear by, the gardens should be really nice. With my luck, some critters carried off the pellets and they will be huge and gorgeous instead of the fliwers, lol.

I also got my Alfalfa from the feed store a few miles from here near Balmoral race track. I also got a bag of the meal which he had to order. It has lasted a long time. Maybe it is due to the fact that I also use Milorganite and some Osmocote. Due to the expense only the favs in my eyes get the Osmocote. Like last season I got another container real cheap this past winter. Patience :rofl:. I will be trying something new to me this early season to give them the micro nutrients that they should get in the early season from what I read by a big name hybridizer. Iron, Calcium and Magnesium among others.

Mike - I use all three fertilizers on mine too. This year, I will be trying worm castings, too. Been feeding those worms in my two plastic bins good.

I really need to see if I can find some alfalfa pellets this spring. I know Tractor Supply carries them but I really don't have one closer than a 45 minute drive away.

Glad you mentioned that, I have a coupon from them for a discount of 10 percent on all animal feed, only good through tomorrow.

If you have any feed co ops near you Cindy, they should have them.

Welcome aboard Dennis, I enjoyed the read.

Not a writer, yeah me neither. LOL.

It's ironic my first job was a big box store nursery spot and a couple years later I "found myself" in lawn and landscape maintenance as a "forever" career move. Daylilies were daylilies until my best friend started sending me pics from a garden I've never visited . Friends for 40 years but I'm not driving 400 miles, same for him and his wife. The red daylilies he sent pictures of inspired me to search out my own and better. I'm not a big fan of things red, but...those blooms! It's been an enlightening experience both personally and financially.

Hazelcrestmikeb said:I also got my Alfalfa from the feed store a few miles from here near Balmoral race track. I also got a bag of the meal which he had to order. It has lasted a long time. Maybe it is due to the fact that I also use Milorganite and some Osmocote. Due to the expense only the favs in my eyes get the Osmocote. Like last season I got another container real cheap this past winter. Patience :rofl:. I will be trying something new to me this early season to give them the micro nutrients that they should get in the early season from what I read by a big name hybridizer. Iron, Calcium and Magnesium among others.

Just a note, Milorganite contains a lot of iron, I wouldn't add any more. If you feel you have a deficiency of iron you'd first want to look at your soil pH. Quoting from a Milorganite document: "MILORGANITE is guaranteed to contain a minimum of 4% iron—almost as much iron as nitrogen." Is the Osmocote one that includes micronutrients also? If it is there's also going to be iron in that.

If you have a problem with iron deficiency you also wouldn't want to add calcium because, depending on the source, it is used to raise soil pH and that decreases the availability of iron. It probably wouldn't do much harm to use Epsom salts for magnesium if there's a reason to suspect a deficiency (more likely on an acidic soil, in which case you're less likely to be having problems with low iron). Also calcium and magnesium are major nutrients not micronutrients.

Not sure if it's been mentioned before, but I would suggest getting a soil test before changing the balance of nutrients in the soil. Yours may not have the same needs as the "major hybridizer". If you apply too much of one nutrient it can cause a deficiency of another, or be toxic itself.

Sue - Noteworthy advice! Thank you. I need to really be careful when fertilizing. I think the one thing that mine often lack the most is water. Especially in the dead heat of summer.

The main reason I love milorganite is it keeps the deer and rabbits away. Anything else it does for the plants is a bonus for me. Not a very professional outlook, but it is a lifesaver for me or I wouldn't have a plant left to talk about.
HAPPY EASTER TO ALL OF YOU