How to Trim Daylily Leaves

Regular pruning will keep daylilies in good shape.

The term "daylily" refers to the many varieties of the genus Hemerocallis. Over time, breeding has produced thousands of daylily cultivars. The wide variety of flower shapes, colors and sizes, and an easy-growing attitude makes the daylily an oft-planted flower. Once established, daylilies require little care. One of their only cultural needs is pruning. Regular trimming and deadheading will keep your daylilies healthy all year.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears

Instructions

1. Pull off the dead and brown leaves of non-evergreen daylilies in late fall at the end of the growing season. Cut the rest of the leaves down to within a few inches of ground level to encourage the plant to go into dormancy.

2. Prune any leaves that have brown streaks, rust-colored spots or any other signs of sickness.

3. Prune any daylily leaves that turn yellow after the plant finishes flowering.

4. Cut tattered or spindly-looking daylily plants down to within 4 to 8 inches of the ground. The plant will grow back healthier and thicker within the month. Water more frequently after a severe cutback. Never cut daylily plants back more often than once every three years; more frequent hard pruning will weaken the plant.

References

• "The Green Mountain Gardener"; Growing Daylilies; Leonard Perry
• The New York Botanical Garden: Divine Daylilies