How to Separate & Replant Day Lilies
- 1). Remove any mulch from the base of the day lilies.
- 2). Insert a garden fork into the soil about 6 inches away from the base of the plant. Lift up slowly to loosen the plant from the ground.
- 3). Remove the garden fork and insert in another location at the base of the plant as previously described. Repeat this process until you can lift the day lily out of the soil. Set the day lily on the ground.
- 4). Insert two garden forks into the middle of the day lily, with the backs of the forks facing each other. Push the fork handles apart to separate the day lily into two clumps. Separate very large clumps into three or four divisions.
- 5). Dig a hole in your garden area 1 inch shorter than the day lily's root ball and 6 to 9 inches wider.
- 6). Set the clumps in the hole 6 inches apart. Backfill the soil gently around the day lilies and firm it down with your hands to remove any air pockets.
- 7). Cut the foliage with scissors to 12 inches to help the day lily recover from planting.
- 8). Water the day lily as often as needed to keep the soil evenly moist for the next two weeks as it adjusts to being divided. Thereafter, day lilies water once per week. Day lilies are fairly drought tolerant.
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