I'm sorry if this is a question already answered, I planted daylillies into a temporary bed, in @ 2 or 3 weeks they will be shifted to their permanent homes. They have been @ 6 months, all have nice fans now, a few even bloomed:) Should I cut them again like the growers did when I received them or just transplant them? Also it's @ 1/3 into winter here- I'm getting conflicting advice about shifting them now - is it too cold? I thought now would be ideal because they've gone to sleep, no? As with my other threads I appreciate any thoughts maybe others have done this and can share the results, please?

How cold does it get there in winter, does it go below freezing? If it goes below freezing much I would not move them now. If the weather when you transplant is cool and grey you may get away with not cutting back the leaves. If it is likely to be sunny and warm then cut back the leaves because otherwise the roots damaged by transplanting will not be able to provide enough water to support the original amount of leaf area. I'm assuming the leaves are still green and living? If you try moving them without cutting back living green leaves, then watch for wilting. If they wilt then cut them back. If they have plenty of soil around their roots when you move them they may hardly notice being moved.

Also, would it be possible to move them by digging up large clumps of soil around the individual plants and moving them will all that soil in tact? That would cause much less root damage and you could more easily get by with out having to cut the foliage, and make sure not to let them get very dry after transplanting. Still, if it is already getting cold, I am not sure cutting the leaves back would be that big of a disadvantage to them rebounding quickly? I think it does depend on how cold and how quickly that cold is coming. I am down south in South East Alabama and I moved plants this year later than I ever have...in November. They did extremely well, much better than some I have moved in the heat of summer. But only toward the end of Winter and near the beginning of spring did we have much weather below freezing.

Hi Sooby and Seedfork,
No, no snow here, it gets to @14-16 degrees C sometimes it rains often overcast although today Mother Nature has blessed us with sun and blue skies:):)
So I will try the large clumps of earth without cutting first, thanks!