| Propagation | | | | garden fork. This takes longer but does less |
| Once you've tried growing even a few daylilies | | | | damage to the roots. Once the clump has been |
| you're bound to want more. The best way to | | | | divided into two parts, you can continue to divide |
| propagate daylilies is through division; it can be a | | | | into smaller sections. |
| bit of a task, but the results make it worth the | | | | After dividing, apply a fungicide to any wounds |
| effort. Not only will you have new daylilies for | | | | made to the roots. If there are leaves on the |
| your garden, the clumps you divide will enjoy | | | | clumps, cut them back by about half their length; |
| renewed health and vigor. | | | | this will reduce the demand for water and will |
| After a few years, most established clumps of | | | | create less stress for the plants, which need to |
| daylilies need to be divided. This can be done in | | | | put all their strength into redeveloping their roots. |
| either spring or fall. The advantage of dividing in | | | | Plant the divisions as promptly as possible after |
| the spring is that the ground is usually soft and | | | | dividing. |
| easy to work, the plants are in a growth period | | | | Wintering Over - some simple winter care is all it |
| and will recover quickly, and there isn't a lot of | | | | takes |
| foliage to deal with so you can see what you're | | | | Daylilies don't require a lot of winter care, but a |
| doing. | | | | few simple steps can make your plants grow |
| The advantage of dividing in the fall is that | | | | better and bloom more. |
| summer blooming is over, so the new plants can | | | | The plants will die back in early fall. Don't remove |
| put all their energy into producing strong roots. If | | | | the dead foliage - it will act as an insulator. |
| you opt for fall division, make sure you give the | | | | Winter Mulch: Covering your daylilies with a thick |
| plants a full six weeks to get settled in before the | | | | layer ( six to twelve inches) of straw or hay can |
| temperatures plunge. | | | | help them get through a cold northern winter |
| How to divide a clump | | | | without damage. Get this mulch layer in place |
| The best method is to dig up the entire clump. | | | | before the ground freezes and leave it on till early |
| Remember that daylily root systems are large | | | | spring. This is particularly important for new or |
| and vigorous, so take your time and be prepared | | | | recently divided daylilies. |
| for some serious digging. Lift or roll the clump out | | | | If you're growing daylilies in pots, the procedure is |
| of the hole and remove enough soil so you can | | | | a little different. After all the foliage has died, trim |
| clearly see where the crown is located. Though | | | | back potted daylilies to about two inches above |
| the clump can be simply cut in two with a sharp | | | | the rim of the container. |
| shovel or blade, this method does a lot of | | | | Cover the pot with a commercially available |
| damage to the roots. | | | | insulating blanket and stow it in a protected cold, |
| A better method is to pry the clump apart with a | | | | dry place. |