You will see new growth above the ground in early spring, which is another indicator that the daylilies are ready to be separated. Alternatively, you can wait until fall when the daylilies have finished blooming. Daylilies will usually begin to look crowded after 4 to 5 years.

If the leaves are already shorter than 8 to 12 in (20 to 30 cm), you don’t need to trim them. Garden secateurs or bypass pruners are the best tool to use to trim the daylilies, as they are precise and give a clean cut.

A clump of daylilies has 3 or more fans of leaves. [4] X Research source

You can also use a garden fork for this step if you prefer. The roots will exceed the outline of the clump by several inches, so include as many as possible when removing the root ball. [6] X Research source The roots of daylilies are very resilient. Don’t worry if you end up breaking or tearing a few.

This will help to separate the roots and to remove any unwanted pests.

Daylily fans are the individual daylily plants. Each fan has leaves, roots, and a crown, which is where all of the leaves meet together at the base. [9] X Research source You can also separate each fan individually, however a group of 2 to 3 fans tends to look aesthetically better. If you have the time, leave each fan outside to air dry for 24 hours. This helps to prevent disease. [10] X Research source

To test the soil drainage, dig a hole that is 12 in (30 cm) across by 12 in (30 cm) deep. Pour enough water into the hole to fill it, and monitor the water as it drains. If the water takes over 1 hour to drain, this means that the soil has poor drainage. You can improve the soil drainage by adding organic matter to the soil, such as manure, compost, or peat moss. [12] X Research source Avoid planting daylilies beneath trees, as the plants will need to compete with the trees for sunlight and soil nutrients.

If you are digging multiple holes to plant the groups of daylilies, leave 12 to 18 in (30 to 46 cm) of space between each hole to give the daylilies room to grow. [14] X Research source

When the soil reaches the top of the hole, press lightly around it to firm the soil. [16] X Research source

This will help the daylilies to thrive, and will prevent weed growth. [19] X Research source

At the end of spring, remove any dead or dying vegetation.