Daylilies are a plant that is very easy to grow but one question you might have is “How long can daylilies be outside before they die?” There are three answers to this question and they all have different answers. I will outline the methods used to divide the average garden so that it might help you decide. The first thing you need to do is divide the garden in half by removing all existing plants and the second is by dividing the garden into quarters and so on.
Let us divide the garden into two groups, one to retain the hemerocallis as well as the daylilies. The hemerocallis grows wild in the north of South America and is quite a serious specimen with large white flowers that can reach 3 feet or more. They prefer a cool climate and do best in pots where they can receive ample shade and water. If left out in the cold they can go dormant and so can any other flowers. For these reasons we do not prune them during their dormant period. We let them remain in the garden until spring when they once again become active and the best time to cut back any that have died.
The best way to determine how long can a plant remain out of the ground is to assess the amount of sun it receives and to see how much water it gets. It is obvious that the larger clumps of daylilies require more sunlight and therefore may stay out of the ground for several months. On the other hand, smaller clumps will flower and die within a few weeks. You can check this by removing some of the flowers and gauging how long they will stay green before turning brown. In both cases it will be short.
How long can daylilies remain in containers? When you plant a clump of daylilies, you will need to keep them contained until you are ready to move them into their outdoor surroundings. You should only transplant single-celled plants or those that are closely related. You can also move single-celled plants sideways to create a cross-hatched pattern.
Can you transplant many daylilies at once? As many as seven or eight clumps can be transplanted at one time. This will depend on how large your container is, but many daylilies will survive this. Before you move them into their outdoor surroundings you will need to carefully remove any remaining roots so that they will not grow up into a weed. You may need to divide your clumps if you don’t have too many clumps.
Do I need to prune my hemerocallis? Yes, you will need to prune your hemerocallis if you want it to bloom profusely. Cut the flowerheads back to between one and two feet high. Remove any buds that may have come up during the day.
How long can daylilies stay out of the ground without being damaged? Your hemerocallis will need to be watered slowly and carefully after being transplanted. Watering them too soon can cause your clumps to become overgrown and cause your plants to spread their roots far beyond their true location. It’s best to transplant your clumps during late summer or early fall when the weather is not cold. It’s also a good idea to move them to a warm, shady area during the summer months.
Is there a chance of disease or insects infesting my transplanted daylilies? Mowing your transplanted daylilies is a great way to protect them from disease. Some diseases common to most garden plants can attack your transplanted plant, such as pink salt, leaf blight, aphids, spider mites, scale insects, wood-worms, and white-flies. These parasites can quickly damage your flower production and kill your flower buds. To avoid this, be sure to move your transplants at least three times each year. If you don’t, your clumps may become overgrown and spread their roots to other areas of your yard and create a disease epidemic!
