Cut the plants down to about six inches tall in an inverted V shape. Don't water for ten days after transplanting, except for watering them in when you plant. Next time, cut the plants down as soon as you dig them up.

Cut them down? You mean cut the leaves? Won't that look sort of, well, funny for the rest of the season?

Chris, I'm in the same zone as you, and I've never lost DLs from transplanting, even in the heat of the summer. As simplton mentioned above, yes cut the leaves down to about 6" from the ground. Most DLs are shipped this way. They won't stay that short for very long. Once they settle in, the leaves will start growing again (in a couple weeks).

Julie

Me too Chris...I'm actually furter North ( I think) I'm right on the border of 4/5 Ontario. I've never lost a DL transplanting in the heat. Cut em back. they may even multiply more for you because of it.

Ange

I'm glad for this thread. We got some new daylilies just over a week ago and they are looking ragged. They were all cut short, we bought them at a Daylily Festival. I hoped they would began to look better. This gives me hope.
Thanks,
Sally

give them time thay will pull through cut back plants to about 6in .water keep crowns near top of ground thay will do fine.

I just transplanted 4 different bunches of daylillies & 3 of the 4 look rough. So if I cut them down to a 6" inverted v, is that 6" in the middle or sides? Don't wanna cut them too short or leave them too long.

In our experience there is no need to cut them down if they have been out of the ground for such a small amount of time. We often go to a hybridizer's garden in July and bring back big divisions of his plants. He doesn't cut them and we don't either. Like Shive said, they will look ratty for a while. We have even had late bloomers put up scapes after this treatment. Whichever you do, daylilies are tough and they will survive.

Nancy

Hi Chris , I am in Southern Ontario so pretty much the same growing zone as you and probably weather wise too ( are you from Stratford by any chance?) .

For daylilies I get from mailorder, I always cut back my daylilies when I plant or replant them . The inverted V as Simpleton mentioned. When you dig and plant a dayliliy it is more than possible that all the old leaves will die back but new growth will come from the center and within a fairly short time you will never know that the plant looked stressed at all. However when I go to a grower's place i like to bring them home intact. I just water them well as they are plantied and let the plant do it's thing . The will look stressed for a while but will quickly recover . If leaves die I simply remove them .

Another question about day lilies..sorry! I live in zone 9 it is late April so my dwarf day lilies are just putting out buds..I have to move by June 26th and I have 24 and I don't want to leave them behind. The only option I have is to pot them. I have a 20 gal. barrel empty plus some 5 gal pots, I also have some good non soil that I ordered, that in mind, can I safely do this? Thanks for the help, I am a first time DL person, and they are looking great and a would love to see them in bloom for the first time..they are in the ground and the next person to come in I know, and will not take care of them or the grounds.

Chris - It's normal for newly transplanted daylilies to have the outside leaves on the fans yellow. They are fine. Cut off the dying leaves. You might also want to trim the foliage, so the plants can put their energy into the roots.

Debra

Rose Terry , in my experience , daylilies are pretty hardy plants. I have had daylilies sitting in a bucket of water for a month and no ill affects and where I am during winter (Canada) I have had plants that sat on top of the ground and they survived even out of the ground . So pot up your plants and keep them well watered between now and when you move . They no doubt will bloom in the pots . Remember to not plant too deep . Keep the crown of the plant covered with about an inch of soil. Things may droop for a short while but they will recover no problem and then when you get to your new place make sure they are well watered for about 2 weeks once you plant them in the ground

They are exceedingly hardy, and they almost without fail "pout" when transplanted. In 2 to 3 hours, I would do as Nancy says. Otherwise, a "haircut" is needed. Pot them up and take them with you, Rose. They may pout but will be fine.

I, too, have daylilies that I have left in water for a long time, and they showed no ill effects. In fact, I have left a plant to overwinter in water (I didn't intend to keep it) and had it bloom in the water the next year.

I invariably soak plants at least overnight if they have come from afar. I live in a hot climate, and I find that soaking then potting and allowing root development (with ample watering) gives me almost 100% healthy plants.

kay

Hello i purchased aeveral daylilies recently. Three were bought from a woman and 7 were from a festival. everyone of them is putting out new growth and i have one that did this too ; however now it is completely yellowing and dying. Is this normal to have new growth and die?

Hu-as noted in the thread above, they will be fine. See the instructions above.