Daylilies, scientifically known as Hemerocallis, are popular, resilient perennials prized for their vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers and low-maintenance nature. Even carefree plants occasionally need attention; daylilies signal this need when flowering diminishes or foliage becomes thin and yellowed. This decline often occurs every three to five years as the plant clumps become overcrowded, prompting the need for division to rejuvenate growth and promote better blooming. Learning how to dig up and divide these plants is a straightforward task that yields new plants and maintains the health of your existing garden.
Determining the Best Time for Transplanting
The timing of division is a significant factor in ensuring the daylily’s successful re-establishment and future flowering. The two optimal windows for transplanting correspond to periods of reduced plant stress. The first is in early spring, just as new green shoots are beginning to emerge from the soil, making the clump easier to handle. The second preferred time is late summer or early autumn, specifically after the plant has finished its blooming cycle. Dividing the plant at this time gives the new divisions several weeks to establish a healthy root system before the ground freezes for winter. Avoid dividing daylilies during the peak heat of summer or while they are actively flowering, as this increases the risk of transplant shock.
Essential Tools and Preparation Steps
Gather a few simple tools to make the task efficient. A sharp garden spade or a sturdy garden fork is necessary for lifting the heavy root ball, along with pruning shears for trimming the foliage. A tarp or a wheelbarrow will also be useful for transporting the clump and keeping the work area tidy. The day before dividing, water the daylily clump deeply and thoroughly. This pre-watering softens the soil, making excavation easier, and ensures the plant’s tissues are well-hydrated, reducing stress. Just before digging, use pruning shears to cut the foliage back to a height of about 6 to 10 inches. This pre-trimming minimizes moisture loss after the roots are disturbed and makes the large clump more manageable.
Safely Excavating the Daylily Clump
Excavation requires careful technique to preserve as much of the root system as possible, as the roots often extend well beyond the visible foliage. Start by inserting your spade or fork into the soil in a complete circle, positioning the tool 12 to 18 inches away from the center of the plant’s crown. This wider radius helps ensure you capture the majority of the fibrous, fleshy roots. Once the initial circle is scored, begin digging inward and downward, aiming to get underneath the root ball. Daylily root balls can be surprisingly large and heavy due to their dense, tuberous roots. Use the handle of the spade or fork as a lever to gently lift and loosen the entire clump from the soil without slicing through the crown. Work your way around the clump, lifting gently until the entire mass can be removed from the ground.
Dividing, Trimming, and Immediate Replanting
With the entire clump out of the ground, shake off any loose soil or use a hose to rinse the roots, making it easier to see the individual growth points, known as “fans.” A fan consists of a cluster of leaves, a crown, and a set of roots, and each fan represents a new daylily plant. To divide the clump, you can often pull apart smaller sections by hand where natural divisions occur.
For larger, tightly packed clumps, you may need to use a sharp knife, a saw, or two garden forks placed back-to-back to pry the sections apart. Aim for each new division to contain at least two to three healthy fans with a robust portion of the root system attached. After division, inspect the roots and use pruning shears to trim off any damaged or excessively long roots, cutting them back to roughly 6 inches to encourage new growth.
Prepare the new planting location by digging a hole that is wider than the root ball of the division. Create a small mound of soil in the center of the hole, and place the division on top, spreading the roots down and around the mound. The crown of the daylily should be positioned so that it sits just at or slightly below the soil surface after the hole is backfilled. Firm the soil lightly around the plant to remove any air pockets and water the newly planted division deeply to settle the soil and encourage the immediate establishment of the roots.