For gardeners new to transplanting anddividing plants, the daylily is a most-forgiving specimen.
Why Divide and Transplant Daylilies?
It’s so satisfying to see a daylily patch growing ever larger and more vigorous year after year.
The Spruce / Jayme Burrows
Gardeners in the South (USDA growing zones 8 and higher) can transplant dayliliesin the fallas well.
Wait until the end of September, when the heatwaves of summer have ceased.
Daylilies need at leastsix to eight hours of full sunto produce flowers.
The Spruce / Jayme Burrows
Forred or purple varieties, some afternoon shade is desirable to avoid fading and scorching blooms.
Mix somecompostinto the soil, loosening soil to a depth of 12 inches.
Carefully dig around the established daylily clump and remove the plant from the ground.
The Spruce / Jayme Burrows
Examine the clump to determine how many divisions to make.
Use a clean sharp garden knife (like theJapanese hori hori) to slice through the fleshy root system.
It’s okay if your knife slices a fleshy root in half, the plant will survive.
The Spruce / Jayme Burrows
Place your divisions in a shady spot and allow the knife wounds to air dry as you work.
Time to Replant the Daylily
Dig a hole slightly larger than the daylily division root ball.
Carefully fill in the hole with soil, pressing away any air pockets.
Water the transplant thoroughly to get it off to a good start.
Consistent watering is the most important element to achieving a healthy daylily.
Keeping daylily beds weed-free also denies insect pests likeslugsandthripsa place to hide and reproduce.
