How to Transplant Day Lilies & at What Time of Year?

Daylilies are bulbous plants that grow from a small group of underground storage structures called fleshy roots. They can be divided and transplanted when the garden becomes crowded or for propagation. The best time to transplant is in the early spring before new growth or in the late summer or early fall after blooming. Transplant new divisions to a sunny location with light afternoon shade in soil that has been amended with organic matter, such as manure or compost. Expect flowering to become more prolific over the years, with the best flowering two to four years after transplanting, according to the University of Vermont.

Garden fork
Trowel
Garden hose
Mulch

Instructions

- 1
  Dig around a daylily plant or clump of plants with a garden fork, digging approximately 6 inches deep before cutting underneath. Lift up the plant or clump from the soil and shake and brush off the soil.
- 2
  Separate the plants with your hands, keeping a minimum of two to three stems per section, recommends the University of Minnesota. Keep the roots intact with the appropriate stems as much as possible.
- 3
  Cut back the stems with a pair of garden clippers or shears, leaving approximately 5 to 6 inches.
- 4
  Replant the divisions in holes that are large enough to accommodate all of their roots without bunching or turning them upward. Plant the crowns -- where the stems meet the roots -- 1 inch below the soil. Space divisions 18 to 24 inches apart.
- 5
  Water the daylily transplants with 1 inch of water and add 2 to 3 inches of mulch, such as with ground bark or straw, to conserve moisture, repel weeds and provide insulation during the winter.

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