How To Divide Daylilies

Daylilies are one of the easiest perennials to grow. They come in such an incredible array of colors and styles and the best thing about them is that they are hard to kill! Like most perennials it’s a good idea to divide your clumps after a few years; it promotes more growth and a healthier plant. Let me show you how to divide daylilies.

Dig Up Your Daylily

The best time to divide daylilies is either in the early Spring or after they are done blooming at the end of the Summer. My clump is taller than I would have liked it to be to divide the daylily; but a week ago it was freezing and snowing here!

Take your pitchfork or garden shovel and plunge it in the soil a few inches away from the plant. I wiggle the tines of my pitchfork around to feel for the edge of the root ball. You want to loosen the root ball enough to be able to lift it out with your pitchfork or shovel. You may have to use your hands lift it out of the hole if it’s heavy.

Dividing The Daylily Clump

I loosen the excess soil from the roots to get a good look at the rhizomes and the plant fans (those are the separate section of the greens on top). When you divide a daylily you want each section to have a fan with a healthy clump of roots attached to it.

I use my hand to gently separate this section of the daylily from the main plant. Most of the time you can do this with your hand but on some occasions you may need to cut the sections with the help of a knife.

Replant The Daylilies

You want to get your daylilies back into the ground so they don’t go into shock. Dig a hole wider and deep enough for the roots. Pop your plant in the center and backfill with the soil. I use my foot to tap around the base of the plant to compress the soil around the plant.

Water them right away. Over the next few days continue to water the new plants; sometimes they will be a little droopy for a few days afterwards but they will perk back up!

They may not produce as many flowers the first year after they are divided but I haven’t noticed much of a difference when I have divided mine in the past.

Happy Gardening!