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When to plant Daylily in Clinton County County,

Clinton County County sits in cold Zone 6a. Plant Daylily May 7–May 21 for the single annual harvest; the October 13 first frost closes the window.

When to Plant Daylily in Clinton County, MI

Clinton County, Michigan Zone 6a June

Your June game plan for Clinton County, Michigan

June rewards gardeners who work with the weather, not against it. Here's how to stay in step this month in Clinton County, Michigan.

Avg. last frost April 30
Avg. first frost October 13
Soil temp (4") 69°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 15.2 hrs
Before July arrives, get these ready
  • Starting indoors: daylily
  • First harvests: daylily

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Hemerocallis (Daylily) is one of the most adaptable and trouble-free perennials in cultivation. Though each flower lasts only a single day, established clumps produce dozens to hundreds of buds per stem, delivering weeks of continuous color through summer. Modern hybrids extend the range from pale cream and melon through deep burgundy and purple. Nearly indestructible once established — tolerating poor soil, drought, competition, and neglect — daylilies form dense spreading clumps that effectively suppress weeds. An excellent low-maintenance choice for slopes, borders, and naturalized areas.

Clinton County, Michigan is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost is October 13, giving you a growing season of approximately 166 days.

At an elevation of 519 feet, Clinton County receives approximately 34.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Daylily to ensure they mature before fall.

Perennial Blooms in Summer Pollinator-friendly Good for cutting
Clinton County, MI (Zone 6a) Moderate season
166 days
Last Spring Frost April 30
166 growing days
First Fall Frost October 13
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Clinton County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.9-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Daylily Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Feb 23 Transplant: May 4 🌸 Bloom: Jul 20 – Nov 2
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Feb 26 Transplant: May 7 🌸 Bloom: Jul 23 – Nov 5
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: May 27 🌸 Bloom: Aug 12 – Nov 25

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Clinton County

How your county's soil matches Daylily's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.9–6.7) overlaps with Daylily's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Clinton County is excellent for Daylily — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Daylily.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.8%) — Daylily will thrive.

How to Plant Daylily

1"
Planting Depth
24"
Between Plants
30"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Daylily

3
successive plantings in your 166-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 15 to harvest before frost.

Daylily Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Daylily

Daylily needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Daylily Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 2.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 3.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 2.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Clinton County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Daylily Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Daylily needs ~975 GDD — county provides 2,158 GDD Excellent fit

Daylily Planting Timeline — Clinton County, MI

Daylily Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 26 Feb 26 – Mar 12
Transplant Outdoors May 7 May 7 – May 21
Bloom July 23 Jul 23 – Nov 5

Plant 1" deep · 24" apart · Rows 30" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors
April
May Transplant Outdoors
June
July Bloom
August Bloom
September Bloom
October Bloom
November Bloom
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

166 days in Clinton County

Growing Tips for Daylily in Clinton County

Direct sow Daylily outdoors after April 30 in Clinton County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Daylilies are most commonly propagated by division rather than seed; cultivar seeds do not come true. Transplant bare-root or potted divisions in early spring or fall, setting crowns no more than 1 inch below soil level. If starting from seed (species types only), start indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost. Established plants are extremely drought-tolerant; moderate water during bloom period improves flower quality. Divide crowded clumps every 3–5 years in early spring or fall to maintain vigor. In warm zones (8+), some cultivars are evergreen; in cold zones, foliage dies back each fall. Year 2+ plants bloom most heavily — first-year transplants may produce limited flowers.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Daylily in Clinton County, MI?

Clinton County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 30. Plan your Daylily planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Clinton County, MI?

Clinton County, Michigan is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 30 and first fall frost is October 13.

When should I plant Daylily in Clinton County County, ?

In Clinton County County, , plant Daylily after the last frost (around April 30) and before the first frost (around October 13). Best results when soil holds above 50°F.

What growing zone is Clinton County County, for Daylily?

Clinton County County sits in USDA Zone 6a. Daylily grows reliably in zones 3a through 10b, so it's a good fit here.

Can Daylily grow in Clinton County County's climate?

Yes — Daylily grows well in Clinton County County's temperate climate. Clinton County County averages a 166-day frost-free season, with last frost around April 30 and first frost around October 13.

🌱

Your Clinton County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Clinton County (Zone 6a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Clinton County, MI. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.