You are here:

Bulbs/Splitting Day Lillies

Advertisement

Expert: Long Island Gardener - 6/2/2008


Question
Area Louisville KY 40223
My Lillies are 4 -5 years old and need to be separated badly. can I still do it in June. If so is there any thing special I need to do.

Answer
Get the show on the road, the sooner the better, before they start to bloom.

One of the benefits of growing certain perennials is that if you grow them properly, they tend to multiply in their spare time.  To take advantage of this, you can 'divide' your Daylilies, following the illustrations at this website:

www.daylilygarden.com/FAQ/faqPropagation.html

Plants obtained by division are preferable to those grown from seed because the seed grown plants will vary from the parent, while the ones you divided will copy the parent in color, form and size.

Dividing Daylilies also boosts the health of the parent plants.  The offshoots will be ready to bloom in season or two at the longest.

I think the illustrations provided in the link above are excellent, but if you have any questions, let me know.  Thanks for writing.

THE LONG ISLAND GARDENER

Bulbs

All Answers

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Long Island Gardener

Expertise

Growing Tulips? Dahlias? Daffodils? Gladiolus? It doesn't get easier than bulbs and tubers. Once in a while, something goes wrong: The dreaded Narcissus Bulb Fly, which resembles a honeybee. Mosaic virus, which can ignite a field of tulips in a single season. Nematodes, lurking underground. Here on the North Shore of Long Island, the garden is full of surprises. If you live in the Northeast/Atlantic Coast, I can help you pick the right bulb for every season, indoors and out, and help you fertilize, bloom and harvest for home or work. How: I have degrees in related fields, but my best understanding is all learned from trial and error. For most of my 53 years I have been gardening somewhere. No matter what the problem, I've learned the best answers are always Organic -- Earth friendly, less expensive, healthier for people and pets, easier and cleaner than toxic liquids and powders that big chemical companies sell so smoothly.

Experience

Besides degrees in related fields, and a few favorite horticultural societies, I work as a docent at our local botanical gardens -- but it's the years of work in the garden that's the real test.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.