How to Cut Day Lilies Down for Winter

Day lilies are one of the many types of perennial plants that bloom in the spring and summer. During the fall, it is important to prepare your day lilies for the upcoming cold winter months to help them reach the dormancy necessary for them to survive and come back in spring. Cutting your day lilies down for winter should be part of your fall gardening preparation each year.

Things You'll Need

• Garden shears
• Stiff mulch (straw or hay)
• Garden fork
• Garden spade
• Bucket of lukewarm water
• Compost

Instructions

Dividing Your Day Lilies

1. Clear any debris from around the base of your day lily plants. Use the garden fork to help carefully loosen the soil.

2. Press the garden fork into the ground, about 12 inches from the base of the day lily plant, to loosen the roots. Continue in a circle around the plant.

3. Pull up the day lily plant at the base very gently. Use the garden spade to lift the plant and the root cluster to keep the roots intact. With your hands, gently break up the dirt clods holding the cluster together and rinse the roots in the water. Split the root cluster and divide the day lily plants into two to four equal individual plants.

4. Dig new holes for your divided day lilies six to seven inches larger than the roots. Place the plants into the holes, fill them in and tamper the dirt down gently. Top with a layer of compost to discourage weed growth.

Cutting Down Your Day Lilies

1. Use the garden shears to cut the flower stem down about 1 to 1 1/2 inches from where the leaves grow from the base.

2. Trim away any dead plant material on or around your day lilies to discourage hiding places for insects and the diseases they may cause.

3. Cover the remainder of the day lily plants with stiff mulch. Make sure not to leave any portion of the plant sticking through to avoid frost damage during the winter.

4. Add a layer of mulch around the plants, staying at least six inches away from the base of the plant. You want to encourage water retention, but not too much.

Tips & Warnings

• When dividing your day lilies, replant them in the same conditions that they were in to maintain the sunlight and soil conditions they are acclimated to.

• Start your dividing during early to late September to allow the roots to regrow properly.

References

• Heritage Perennials: Preparing the Perennial Garden for Winter