You can deadleaf them (meaning rip out the dead leaves only) to tidy up their appearance or you can cut them down to 6 inches or even just a couple inches without harming them. The plant will produce new leaves that will die with the frost in fall provided you keep them watered during droughts.

Purists will have a fit, but I cut my daylilies down to the ground, feed them and keep them watered, they grow back before fall and I have fabulous day lilies every year. Otherwise, they mess up the garden with dying foliage.

I got rid of most of my daylilies because of the summer-post-bloom death look. I used to 'dead leaf' but now just cut them back when I get tired of them. Doesn't seem to bother the plants.

I also cut back on the number of rattier iris. The only big clumps I have are some that keep nice foliage all year. I want my garden to look best in August, not tired and burnt out (because if my garden looks that way, I will follow.... and winter's too long to get sick of the garden in July)

Thanks for the responses. I'm going to do it - hopefully today if the rain stops anytime soon.

IMO daylilies have some of the nicest foliage in early spring. It's just go lush and optimistic looking. I love looking at it. Hard to believe they can turn so ugly right in the middle of the gardening season, but they do as we all know.

Kevin

You will be amazed that they get that spring fresh look again in August. However, if the season is long enough, they do have the potential to get ratty again, but at least it will really be the end of the season by then.

I do hold back on severely cutting back the rebloomers - Happy Returns and Rosy Returns, but I do still cut them back a good amount.