Daylilies thrive, so it’s wise to divide them once every three years or so – five years at most. Dividing the plants helps prevent problems caused by overcrowding, such as fungal infection and pest infestation.
Division also promotes more blooms in the long run, but newly divided plants probably will not bloom in the first year.
It is best to make divisions early in the springtime, but you can also do it immediately after the plants have finished flowering.
Divide the plants by first digging up the whole plant and then pulling the leaf fans apart. Each division should have a couple of stems (fans of leaves) attached to the roots.
Once divided, cut back the foliage to about 5”-6” and plant the tubers to make sure they are buried to 1” above the crown. The crown is the part of the plant where the root meets the stem.
Water the tubers thoroughly, and add more soil as needed to get them submerged to the correct level.
Add a layer of mulch to help hold in moisture in the spring and summer and to help protect the tubers against cold in the fall and winter.
12 Tips For Successfully Transplanting Daylilies
Daylilies are exceptionally hardy, easy to care for perennial plants. They provide an abundance of blossoms in exchange for a minimum of care. However, daylilies need dividing every few years to perform at their best.
While daylily care is simple, transplanting can be a bit tricky. Here are twelve clever tips to help you succeed when dividing and transplanting daylilies.
1. Transplanting at the end of the growing season may give you a bit more chance of having blooms in the first growing season.
2. Transplanting in springtime gives the plant more time to become established through the spring and summer, but you will not get blooms during that first season.
3. You can remove the leaves from the tubers before or after digging them up from the ground. If you have a lot of plants to divide, cutting off the excess foliage beforehand may be a time saver.
4. After digging the plants up, shake away loose dirt and then wash the tubers with your garden hose. Sift through them for any signs of injury or disease. Dispose of damaged tubers.
5. After cleaning, you will probably separate the tubers and fans by hand. If they are stubborn, you can use a very sharp, sterile cutting implement. If you make cuts in the tubers, allow them to air for a day or two so that the stakes can callus over before coming in contact with soil.
6. If you cannot transplant your daylily fans right away, it’s alright to leave them out to air for several days. A little sun exposure may even help prevent problems with crown rot.
7. Give your daylilies plenty of room to grow and spread. The hole for each fan should be twice as wide as the plant’s tubers and roots and at least a foot deep.
8. Fill the bottom of the hole with a mound of fresh, loamy, fertile soil and place the daylily fan on top. Make sure the roots are not clumped up.
9. Fill the hole around the daylily division with more fresh, loamy, fertile soil. Firm it down gently and add more soil as needed.
10. Water thoroughly and add more soil as needed.
11. Surround the transplant with high-quality mulch. Be careful not to allow the mulch to touch the plant’s stem.
12. Keep the soil evenly moist until your plants are well established, then switch to soak and dry watering.