Daylilies -Tips to Prevent Pest Attacks

Pests that Attacks Daylilies and Tips to Prevent their Attacks

Daylilies are best perennial plants that bloom for a day and get replaced by another flower the next day. They come in a lot of different varieties and their multi-hued flowers are most sought after by many home gardeners. They add beauty and elegance to your garden landscape and can be used as borders and ground covers. Daylilies do not get affected commonly by diseases like most other plants, but they also face some special challenges from pests. They are not fully pest and diseases free and needs special attention and care to stay blooming.

Preventing Aphids, Thrips and Plant Bug attacks

The foliage and flowers of daylilies can be easily affected by pests that include plant bugs, leafhoppers, European earwigs, thrips and aphids. The aphids attack daylilies in colonies. Thrips are pests that can cause severe damage to the daylilies. These pests can be removed easily from the daylilies. You can try this for mealy bugs as well to tell you the truth I have never seen a MEALY BUG on my plants. Soapy sprays will help in controlling these pests. You can buy any non chemical soapy solutions and sprays from an organic garden store to help you in getting rid of these pests. You also have the option of preparing soapy sprays at home. Add a tablespoon of mild soap in a pint of water. Mix well and then spray on the infested daylilies to paralyse or to kill the bugs. Keeping the plant hydrated and spraying the leaves with water can prevent the attack by these pests to a great extent.
  

Preventing spider mites attacks

One of the most common PESTS that attack blooming daylilies is the spider mites. They are small creatures that can cause damage to the daylily plant. They are very difficult to spot on a daylily plant because of its small size and yellowish or green colour. They will eat the undersurfaces of the fresh leaves. They take away all the nutrients of the plant and if left untreated, they can damage the daylilies very badly. The best way to get rid of the spider mites that are seen more common during hot summer and dry weather is to spray water on the leaves to keep them moist.

Preventing Slugs and Snails attack
 

The slugs and snails also can cause significant damage to the daylilies. They attack the plants during the night and feed on the veins of new daylilies leaves. This can result in the leaves to shreds. They thrive in damp and moist conditions and are commonly spotted during the spring and autumn seasons. If you spot grey, blackish or yellowish species on the plants, then you will have to remove it instantly. Wear protective gloves on your hand and remove the snails and slugs from the leaves. Put them in salty water to kill them. Watering the garden in the mornings will dry them in the evening and this way you can reduce the slugs and snails from attacking the daylilies.

Aphids, spider mites, snails, slugs and thrips can also be easily controlled with the use of Epsom salts. Mix two dessert spoons of Epsom salts in hot water. Now add this hot water mixture into a cold water bucket. Spray this water on the daylilies every six months to prevent the pests from attacking the daylilies.