Transplanting after the plant has leafed out. Not in its dormant winter phase where the leaves haven't sprouted yet. At least that is what I think Ron meant. Harry
If it's the nearly-wild daylily with orange flowers, you might keep in mind that if you don't get out every last bit of root when you move it, it will regrow in its present location. Also, if a few leaves wilt and die when you move it, don't worry, they will be replaced by new growth.
I read somewhere that it's a good thing for the plant to have its leaves cut back a bit before replanting. Also roots can be washed off with water to more easily separate. And then replant. I've even taken a shovel and literally sliced a big chunk of daylily into smaller ones. Didn't seem to hurt it much and it has come back again this spring. I felt bad doing it, but really had no choice. It came from the end of the year sale last fall from the garden center and the poor thing was choked so tight in a 1 gallon pot.
Well I saw a Daylily seller website once, and they field grow daylilies. Before shipping they dig up the plant, wash off the roots and cut back the foliage to 6 inches. They say it helps prevent shock to the plant because then it would require less water to re-establish itself. This could be incorrect, but I'm just repeating what I saw. I'll try to find that website again, that shows the photographs of the people cutting up the plants.
Erroneous recommendations based on unproven conventions are abundant and easily found. Think about it: you're cutting the plant so it won't be shocked. Double amputation is (cutting of tops in addition to roots) supposed to make up for single amputation (cutting of roots). Lose a leg, cut off an arm to compensate.
Don't take offence Ron, but to compare a human type amputation to the plant world isn't a good analogy.............we rarely have bits of us eaten off by predators, plants however are subject to being eaten, and therefore have mechanisms in place to repair/compensate for this, grasses for example are stimulated by grazing animals, and grow more vigorously (pruning promotes vigorous growth) a reduction in the surface area of the leafy parts of the plants will reduce the pressure/stress on the root system, another reason to reduce leaf size is for stability, replanting a top heavy plant is not easy. Iris germanica is a classic example. All that said, i'm not 100% convinced damaging both the root system and the top growth is not detrimental to the plant..........therefore, personally i reduce only the older larger leaves. And as always it will depend on the plant, some plants yes do cut back others don't.
