Every 3 to 5 Years, You Should Divide Your Daylilies
Daylilies are known for their hardiness and easy-care nature, making them a favorite among both novice and experienced gardeners. Over time, however, these robust perennials can become overcrowded, leading to decreased flowering and an overall decline in plant health. Dividing them helps to alleviate this congestion, giving each plant more space to grow and access to ample nutrients and moisture. Divide them in early spring before they start growing or in late fall after they've stopped blooming. This process not only revitalizes your Daylilies, ensuring lush, vibrant blooms but also allows you to expand your garden display or share these beloved perennials with friends and fellow gardeners.
Step-by-Step Guide to Dividing Daylilies
Preparation: Choose a cool, overcast day to divide your Daylilies to minimize stress on the plants. Ensure you're well-equipped with a sharp spade or garden fork, garden forks for prying the clumps apart, and a sharp knife or secateurs for any necessary clean-up.
Digging Up the Plant: Begin by watering your Daylilies thoroughly a day before division to ensure the soil is moist and the roots are hydrated. Gently dig around the perimeter of the Daylily clump, giving a wide berth to avoid damaging the roots. Lever the plant out of the ground, aiming to keep the root ball intact.
Dividing the Clump: Once you have the Daylily out, use two garden forks inserted back-to-back in the center of the clump to gently pry the plant apart. This method is gentle on the plants and helps to preserve as many roots as possible. If the clump is particularly tough, you might need to use a sharp knife or saw to help split the clump. Continue dividing until you have manageable clumps, each with several shoots and a healthy portion of roots.
Trimming: Before replanting, trim the foliage back to about 12 inches. This reduces the stress on the plant and helps prevent excessive moisture loss while the roots re-establish.
Replanting: Prepare the new planting holes, making them wide enough to accommodate the spread roots without crowding. Amend the soil with compost to give your divisions a nutrient boost. Place each clump in its hole, fanning out the roots and ensuring that the crown (where the roots meet the stems) is level with the soil surface. Backfill with soil, gently firming to remove air pockets, and water well.
Aftercare: Keep the newly planted Daylilies well-watered, especially during their first few weeks in the ground to help them establish. Mulching around the plants will help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Companion Planting Tip: For a garden that remains lively throughout the growing season, consider pairing your Daylilies with Irises. Both thrive under similar conditions – loving plenty of sunshine and well-draining soil. They complement each other beautifully, with Irises typically blooming before Daylilies, offering a succession of colors and textures in your garden.
Dividing Daylilies is not only a practical gardening task but also a rewarding one, ensuring the health of your plants and the continuity of their spectacular display year after year. With these simple steps and a little care, you'll find dividing Daylilies to be an enjoyable part of your gardening routine, enhancing the beauty and diversity of your garden spaces.
