Dividing day lilly

I have a big yellow coloured day lilly in one of my beds. It didn't produce many flowers last year (my first year here) and those that were produced were often hidden amongst the foliage. I think it is too congested and needs dividing but I broke my fork trying to do the back to back trick!

It is now sprouting but I do not want it to stay where it is - will it survive if I do manage to get it out and divide it?

 

Yes Victoria, I'm sure it will survive as they are pretty tough.
If you can't divide with 2 forks - well you only have 1 now - just take a spade and chop bits off round the edges and replant the bits.
IN general they don't really like being moved and might sulk for a while - but if you have to do it you have to do it.
Maybe it didn't flower well last year because it had been moved by the previous owners so you could leave it and see if it does better this year. But if you don't want it where it is then the spade is the answer.

 

As Alice says, I am sure it will survive - they are very tough. Sorry to hear about the broken fork - but I am not that surprised. I think you can often be pretty brutal. I regularly use an old bread knife as a saw to split small things like Lobelia cardinalis. For a large Day Lily I would use a coarse saw and cut it in two or more - having lifted the whole thing.

 

The house and garden belonged to a lady who lived here until she died at 94, so the garden was a little neglected when we moved in. Still tidy, but she obviously hadn't been able to garden fully for quite a while.

I think it possibly didn't produce many flowers because it is so densely packed.

Thanks for your advice - I will give it a go!

 

I have a feeling lifting it might need some kind of machine!!!!!!!!

 

Day Lilies are not too deeply anchored. All you have to do it go around it with a sharp shovel shoving it in all around rocking it back an forth. You may have to go around three times just to get under all of the clump. Bring out the clump and lay it down sideways, take the same sharp shovel and just spear it quickly with your foot down the center of the clump and then again with each half and again with all those quarters. (of course depends on how big it is) Then dig the numbers of holes needed for each clump, respect the level it came from and plant them. If there is any spent -dead brown leaves from prior blooming just clean it up before planting. I done many, many and give them no further thought and they come up well. You don't need any special machine, just a good shovel, and the weight of your body to lean in to the dig. Easy my dear. And yes, they are tough.

 

totally agree with above, tough as old boots. I think your right about the reason for lack of flowers, congested clumps get tired, part of the reason being the soil gets depleated of the nutrients they need and the centre of clumps just gets old. Planting pieces with 5-10 shoots, feeding, mulching and keeping watered in a dry spell will produce vigerouse growth, hopefully a few flowers this year and definatly a good display next.

 

That's great plantman and redstar. Very helpful. I'll do exactly that, divide up from on it's side.

When I said machine, I meant the male variety... purr! :luv:

 

humm---machine===male---hum.

 

We live in hope?! :lollol:

 

:thumb:I've done it! Hubby managed to get it up and we turned it upside down and quartered it. I have now replanted and have four lovely plants (hopefully) and I'm feeling very chuffed. Thanks all who advised.

 

Good for you. All will be well. Guess you do have a machine.

 

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AND; I always thought "manual labour" was a Spaniard!

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