Daylilies (Hemerocallis) are popular, durable, and low-maintenance landscape plants that thrive in various conditions. Post-bloom trimming helps preserve their attractive appearance and directs the plant’s energy toward future growth. Proper care after the flowers fade ensures the plant remains vigorous and aesthetically pleasing throughout the growing season. The trimming process is divided into three stages, each addressing a different part of the plant.
Removing Individual Spent Flowers
The initial step in post-bloom maintenance is deadheading, which involves removing individual spent blooms. Each flower on a daylily scape, or stalk, lasts for only a single day, which is the origin of the plant’s common name. Prompt removal of these wilted blossoms improves the plant’s appearance immediately and prevents a messy, faded look.
This action is performed by gently pinching or clipping the spent bloom right below the base of the flower, ensuring the entire flower structure is removed. The goal is to remove the ovary, located at the base of the flower, which contains the potential for seed production. If the ovary remains, the plant diverts energy to creating a seed pod, reducing energy available for root development and future flowering. For repeat-blooming varieties, regular deadheading encourages the formation of new flower stalks and a second flush of blooms.
Cutting Back the Flower Scapes
After all individual flowers on a single scape have opened and faded, the entire flower stalk must be removed. This is done once the scape no longer contains unopened flower buds and has begun to turn brown and wither. Removing the whole scape prevents the plant from wasting resources on developing seed pods.
To remove a finished scape, trace the stalk down to the crown, the base of the plant where the leaves emerge. Use sharp shears or scissors to cut the scape off as close to the crown as possible without damaging the surrounding foliage. If the stalk is completely brown and dry, it can sometimes be gently tugged free from the plant base. This step eliminates the unsightly brown stalks that would otherwise stand above the green foliage.
When and How to Trim the Leaves
The final stage involves maintaining the foliage, the long, strap-like green growth of the daylily. Throughout the summer, perform light maintenance by pulling off or clipping any individual leaves that have turned yellow, brown, or show signs of disease. This continual cleanup keeps the clump tidy and helps reduce the spread of fungal issues.
The major seasonal cutback of the foliage is best timed after the plant has naturally begun dormancy, typically in late fall or early winter after a hard frost. Allowing the leaves to remain green permits photosynthesis to continue, sending energy to the roots for storage over winter. Trimming the foliage too early, such as immediately after the main bloom period, diminishes the plant’s ability to store enough energy for the following spring’s growth.
For the final cutback, use hedge shears or a sharp blade to shear the entire clump of foliage back to a height of three to six inches above the crown. This prepares the plant for winter and removes the old, dying foliage, which harbors pests and diseases. In warmer climates or with evergreen varieties, you may only need to pull off the dead material in the spring before new growth appears.