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When to Plant Daylily in Forest County, PA

Forest County, Pennsylvania Zone 6a June

What to do in June

Your garden in Forest County, Pennsylvania is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this June.

Avg. last frost May 13
Avg. first frost October 13
Soil temp (4") 71°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 15 hrs
Before July arrives, get these ready
  • Starting indoors: 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.

Forest County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost is October 13, giving you a growing season of approximately 153 days.

At an elevation of 125 feet, Forest County receives approximately 40.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Daylily to ensure they mature before fall.

Perennial Blooms in Summer Pollinator-friendly Good for cutting
Forest County, PA (Zone 6a) Moderate season
153 days
Last Spring Frost May 13
153 growing days
First Fall Frost October 13

Forest County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.2-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Daylily Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 3 Transplant: May 12 🌸 Bloom: Jul 28 – Nov 10
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: May 20 🌸 Bloom: Aug 5 – Nov 18
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 30 Transplant: Jun 8 🌸 Bloom: Aug 24 – Dec 7

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 Forest County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.2–6.8) overlaps with Daylily's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.9%). Annual compost additions will help Daylily.

How to Plant Daylily

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

Succession Planting Daylily

2
successive plantings in your 153-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
1.1″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

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 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 2.2" 3.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 3.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 3.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 2.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Forest 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 ~919 GDD — county provides 1,874 GDD Excellent fit

Daylily Planting Timeline — Forest County, PA

Daylily Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 11 Mar 11 – Mar 25
Transplant Outdoors May 20 May 20 – Jun 3
Bloom August 5 Aug 5 – Nov 18

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

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

153 days in Forest County

Growing Tips for Daylily in Forest County

Direct sow Daylily outdoors after May 13 in Forest 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 Forest County, PA?

Forest County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of May 13. Plan your Daylily planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Forest County, PA?

Forest County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 13 and first fall frost is October 13.

🌱

Your Forest County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Forest 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 Forest County, PA. 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.