Inevitably, daylilies do not need pruning. If they are healthy and happily blooming, they can manage without making contact with the pruning shears. But when should a cut be recommended to the gardener?

Prune to prevent seed formation and self-seeding

Many gardeners recommend pruning daylilies after they have faded. Seed formation costs the plant a lot of energy, which it needs to flower next year. In addition, most daylilies are hybrids. When the seeds develop and self-sow, they produce offspring that are weaker and flower different colors.

Cut in case of disease or pest infestation

If your daylily is affected by a disease, it is advisable to generously cut off all affected parts of the plant. In addition, pests appear from time to time. It is often the daylily gall midge that lays its eggs in the buds.

  • hatched gall midges eat the buds
  • Consequence: no bloom
  • Countermeasure: cut off and destroy thickened buds

Cutting for beauty reasons

There is still a point in pruning your daylily when it no longer looks beautiful. When the flowers have withered, you can remove them. In addition, after flowering, the foliage is usually less attractive. It can also be cut off. New and healthier-looking foliage emerges in no time.

In the fall, the withered foliage can be as high as a hand high from the ground. Alternatively, the old foliage can be removed in spring. It can serve as protection on the plant over the winter. In the spring it should not be cut off, but pulled out of the ground.

cutting to eat

A cut may also be appropriate if you want to eat parts of the daylily. The flowers and the leek-like stalks are edible, tasty and have a wide range of culinary uses.

Cutting after dividing

Last but not least, a cut should be made after dividing the daylily in spring or autumn. First the roots are dug up, then divided, replanted and finally the leaves are cut down to 15 cm.

tips and tricks

It is better to break off or pull out the plant parts (as with rhubarb). This is more thorough and the plant tolerates it better than a cut.

Category:

Herbs