Once you divide the daylily in half, you can continue to divide the plant by halving the halfs. It gives each perennial ample space to breathe, and an equal chance to be able to develop beautiful blooms. Search Gardeners' World on WonderHowTo for more videos that give practical gardening advice from experts. Related To: Flowers Gardening Plants 'Moonlit Masquerade' Daylily. Space the bulbs 8 to 12 inches (20-30 cm.) You might enjoy watching your patch of daylilies grow close together in a rampant frenzy because it makes your flower garden appear more lush, dense, and full of foliage. Plant the larger bulbs under 5 to 6 inches (13-15 cm.) Daylilies have the added characteristic of growing ever-expanding clumps each year, giving the gardener more plants to populate the landscape or share with friends and family. If you live in a colder climate you will want to dig them up and store them for the winter and then divide them in the spring. Cut the foliage back to around 4 to 6 inches, water generously and look forward to next summer’s abundant new blooms! Rinse it gently with your garden hose, on a spray setting. Dividing daylilies is relatively easy task to accomplish. I didn't know if you meant true lilies, daylilies, calla lilies, etc., so this publication covers dividing all the different types of underground storage units, such as bulb, rhizome, corms, tubers. Finally, after dividing your daylilies, replant your divisions 12′ to 18′ apart (remember, these plants grow fast), adding compost or LeafGro to the soil. Immediately start transplanting lily bulbs once they have been lifted. Daylilies are incredibly reliable flowers that will return year after year, without fail, even if you choose not to divide and transplant them. Ensure the compost is moist at all times, but not wet. Be sure to start digging a good foot from the centre of the plant and dig deep so as not to damage the roots. It does not matter which climate conditions you live in, the best time to divide your daylilies is during early spring season, after they have finished blooming. Dig the cannas lily bulbs up gently with a pitch of garden fork. How to propagate waterlilies. The best time of day is morning when temperatures are cooler and soil and air contains some moisture. Tropical water lilies will need dividing when blooming ceases in very warm weather. The best time to transplant lilies will depend on your zone. The first step in the process is to lift the water lily and its pot completely out of the pond, locate the rhizome (the lily’s thick horizontal root) and rinse it … However, if you want to make sure that your daylilies are healthy, then it is a good idea to divide them now and then. You can divide and plant daylilies well into late autumn without compromising the benefits of dividing your lilies. Transplant them at the same time if you live in a mild-climate area where the rhizomes overwinter outside. Daylilies respond well to dividing when in their active growth stages. How to Divide Daylilies . You will be surprised how easy they are to grow and propagate! Established clumps can be reinvigorated by dividing every three to five years. Experts say late September or early October is when to move lilies. Dig up and remove rootball. In this situation, we divided this daylily into four sections. Choose a daylily that is large and healthy. Divide day lilies. There are a few steps to follow. These vibrant flowers comes in a variety of hues. In this video, learn how to divide day lilies. Sign up for our newsletter. Writer Bio. This Greek word is made up of two parts: hemera meaning day and kallos meaning beauty. This variety of lily is easy to grow and the earliest to bloom. Worried about dividing your lilies incorrectly? How to Choose the Right Time to Split Calla Lilies. Dividing or splitting a water lily is not a difficult process. Therefore, you must learn how to propagate lilies to know how to start the species you have successfully. You can divide and plant daylilies well into late autumn without compromising the benefits of dividing your lilies. If you mess up - it's okay! Wait until the fall when the stems and leaves turn from yellow to brown before you dig up the bulbs. Take your pitchfork or garden shovel and plunge it in the soil a few inches away from the plant. Closely inspect the rhizome of the water lily, looking for the sections of the corm that is sprouting a … It's just as easy to divide. Dividing and re-potting your water lilies every other year is a good practice. Dividing Day Lilies. It is easier to divide these plants during this time as the cool soil temperatures, and showers of light rain can help newly divided and replanted daylilies recover quickly. The name is appropriate, since each flower lasts only one day. Caring for hemerocallis. I didn't know if you meant true lilies, daylilies, calla lilies, etc., so this publication covers dividing all the different types of underground storage units, such as bulb, rhizome, corms, tubers. A few weeks before your local date of your first frost, you should have division of lilies on your list of fall chores. By dividing daylilies, you can fill your garden with lively foliage and flowers that come in a wide array of shapes and colors. Most bulb flowers undergo a process called naturalization over time. There's more good news about this plant. Think big: root balls can be significant in size, so dig out a few... Flip the root ball over, and use a spade to divide it into 6-8 inch clumps. As you divide the clump with a gardening spade or fork, confirm that each division has at least one bud. Lilies look best in clumps. At this time you can cut the stem to just above the lily bulb. Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus. It depends on the plants in question, but generally speaking, the best time to do it is in the late summer. They often stop flowering when they have outgrown their container. The spring season is perfect because it is the time where new shoots are beginning to emerge. How to Prune or Cut Back Daylilies . Here are the basic steps for dividing daylilies: 1. Other than that, the process is pretty much straightforward. It doesn’t matter if they are Asiatic or Oriental; lilies bring serenity and beauty to any landscape. The original bulbs will slowly fizzle out and either stop producing blooms or grow smaller flowers. Daylilies (hemerocallis) are resilient perennials that will thrive in a variety of growing conditions, including clay soil. Any hints on doing this? Dividing Basics. By missing out on the opportunity to divide daylilies, you are robbing them of the chance to grow their best. To get the most out of dividing and transplanting your daylilies, you will want to do this once every few years. Apply organic material several inches over the planting zone to insulate the bulbs for winter. Normally, by the second week of September they’d be ready for lifting and dividing but we still have some wonderful blooms. Warnings . The active growth stages, when new leaves are forming, occur during early spring before bloom scapes begin to show and in the late summer/early fall after the blooming stage has been completed. Dividing a clump of daylilies with a saw. If you want more hostas to transplant to other areas of the landscape, or if your plants have outgrown the space they were intended to fill, these are good reasons to divide hostas. Once you have clump free, brush or rinse the dirt from the roots so you can see them. Insert the tool straight down into the ground 8 to 10 inches from the clump, and rock the tool back and forth gently to loosen the roots. Feed with a high potassium liquid fertiliser such as tomato feed every fortnight during summer. Aftercare. After flowering. Step 1 Divide spider lilies at the end of their growing season, in late summer and early fall. Clean away most of the soil to expose the tuber (rhizome) and the roots. Plus, Orders Over $125 Ship for Free. This proximity between plant roots enables unhealthy competition where your precious perennials begin competing against each other for nutrients and water in the same soil. When growing lilies, it's best to let them grow undisturbed as long as they are flowering reliably. Just give us a call before you bring your lily or lilies to the nursery so we can properly accommodate your needs. Asiatic hybrid lilies (Lilium spp.) If you miss dividing in the early spring, the second best time to divide plants is in the early fall. Dig around the perimeter of the clump, then lift the Asiatic lily bulbs out of … Find out more here. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Don’t worry about cutting some of the fleshy roots – they’ll still grow. Daylilies can be divided almost any time during the year, and you can be confident that these resilient flowers will always return without disappointing you. Dig several inches (10 cm.) Dividing a clump of daylilies with a saw. Shade can inhibit these perennials from being able to soak in the maximum amount of sunlight since they need full sun to thrive. Pinterest; Facebook; Twitter; Email; By: Meagan Francis. Cut stems to 5 or 6 inches (13-15 cm.) Gently separate each bulb and its attending bulblets, which are tinier versions of a bulb. For most of my daylilies I was able to get 4 or 5 divisions from one single plant. 1. Flash Sale Today Only! Only gardeners in the coldest climes will need to store their bulbs indoors and “fool” them with a chilling period before planting outdoors in spring. It’s best to divide the clumps every few years as they multiply and become overcrowded. Daylilies do best either in the sun or in partial shade. Spider lilies look different from standard lilies but still grow from bulbs as standard lilies do. Make a dramatic statement in your garden with 'Moonlit Masquerade'. Extra 10% off All Orders Use Code “EXTRA10” If you divide in the late spring, summer or fall, cut back the foliage to 8 inches tall with a pair of hedge shears and remove any flower stalks before dividing. How to Divide Water Lilies: Carefully lift your water lily pot(s) out of the water, removing them from the pond. Divide your cannas lilies either in the fall or the spring depending on what zone you live in. To divide, lift the water lily and its pot completely out of the pond. Steps. So, I only divide hosta lilies when there's a reason to do so. Lilies are cherished gift flowers and power houses of the perennial garden. Allow them to air dry and keep them at a temperature of 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The timing you choose will only influence how long it will take them to recover from their bloom later in the season. Pierce the root system with a clean and sharp shovel, dividing the daylily in half. Gardeners' World is brought to you by the BBC. In other zones, store the divisions until summer. This doesn’t have to be done every year, but you should undertake the task every 2 to 3 years for the best lily stands. Divide spider lily bulbs to propagate new plants. Step 2 - Divide at the Root. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Daylilies can easily be divided. This is a smelly and tricky job so wear waterproof trousers and ask a friend to help. That way, you won’t harm any plants while they’re blooming. How to Divide Daylilies. Step 2: Dividing daylilies. By: Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist. If after a two to three years your clumps of calla lily have multiplied and the rhizomes (roots/bulbs) become overcrowded they may stop flowering. After about five years, water lilies will be ready to divide. Then build a small mound under your transplant and fan the daylily roots out into the soil. Keep them away from children and pets. Dividing your lilies is easy! Lilies have had such a funny year; they’re all out of sync. They can also be grown by seed but it takes much longer. It is easiest to remove your daylilies from the ground by using a garden fork to lift the clump from the ground. You might have to cut off some late bloom stalks in order to divide the plants in early fall. If you divide them too often, they will fail to bloom beautifully. You will mostly see these perennials flourishing in USDA hardiness zones 3-10. Some lilies produce small protruding bulbs or “eyes” with active growing tips along the body of the tuber. It's just as easy to divide. Doing so will still give your daylilies enough time to be able to develop healthy blooms during the growing season next year. Daylilies are not true lilies, like a Stargazer or Casablanca Lily, but do have lily shaped blooms and certain varieties are fragrant. When is the right time to do this in the Northeast (NYC area). When to Divide Lilies When growing lilies, it's best to let them grow undisturbed as long as they are flowering reliably. When cutting back, use your hands to pull off any dead foliage and then cut back the rest of the leaves to within a few inches of the ground. The Best Time to Divide Asiatic Lilies. Tags: flower beds, flower seasons, flowering, flowers, plant, plant care, planter beds, Copyright © 2021 Perfect Plants. Normally, by the second week of September they’d be ready for lifting and dividing but we still have some wonderful blooms. For "Stella de Oro," this doesn't happen until the weather starts to cool. above the ground. While the best time to divide them is during spring, they are tough enough to survive being divided anytime during the year. If your soil is loose, you may even be able to pull the separate tubers apart. Daylilies are colorful, hardy, and low-maintenance perennials that add life to your flower garden. There's more good news about this plant. In most zones, you can lift the bulbs and separate them, then instantly plant them to overwinter in the ground. down. When this happens it's time to divide them so they'll have more breathing room and space to grow. Divide your calla lilies in the fall. Depending upon how large your daylily is, you can divide it into 2-4 sections. At this time, there should still be foliage left on the bulbs, but the plant is going dormant and will take little damage from being interrupted. Can You Divide a Peruvian Lily?. This will ensure that you get all the bulbs without damaging them with your spade or garden fork. Tropical water lilies will need dividing when blooming ceases in very warm weather. Divide away! Calla lilies grow from horizontal root stems called rhizomes. Lilies are a symbol of peace and traditionally represent chastity, virtue, devotion and friendship, depending upon the color. Most waterlilies should be divided every five years. Dividing and Transplanting Calla Lilies. Some plants will last later into the season and should be allowed to remain with foliage intact until the last possible date before frost. You may bring your lily or lilies to the nursery where, for a small fee, we’ll divide, repot them to the same pot, and give them fertilizer to jumpstart them so you can enjoy their lovely blooms this summer. Dig several inches (10 cm.) above the ground. Ideally, you will want to divide your daylilies once every three to five years to keep them healthy. Calla lilies are poisonous. Here are a few simple steps for dividing your lilies during the fall. Day lilies prefer growing in full sun, but are not really fussy about it. Otherwise, I leave them alone. References. How to Divide Daylilies. If your climate growing zone is zone 7 or above (according to the USDA), then it is a good idea to transplant your daylilies in the fall. By dividing daylilies into smaller clumps and replanting them, you give them more growing room, revitalizing the plants. Dividing daylilies is by far the easiest and quickest way to propagate new plants. When and how should I lift and move/divide my Foxtail Lilies (the Latin escapes me...E----something?.)? Work quickly so your bulbs do not dry out. There are two times to split the calla lilies rootstocks: + At the end of winter or the beginning of spring when there are no more threats from frost. Since spider lilies grow from a bulb, Schoenberg says it's important to not plant them too deeply in the soil. 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