I have a friend who currently lives in Opelika, Alabama. Because of her husband's infirmities, they have purchased a house in northern Alabama and will be moving there in April to be nearer one of their sons.

To avoid missing her daylily blooming season, I've suggested that she pot them as soon as possible, so she can enjoy the blooms in her new location, and plant them after the blooming season.

Question: when is it safe to pot daylilies in her current location (zone 8, I believe)

Thanks

I am further south in Alabama but I am potting some now, just transferring others directly in the garden now. I think you could do it at almost any time in central Alabama, @Kabby could tell better she is more center of the state.

Just thinking about the question a little more, I guess it would be nice to know, no matter where you are, when it would be ok to pot or transfer daylilies, in other words what are the determining
factors of when you can/can't pot or transfer daylilies other than the ground being frozen? I really don't know! Anyone out there with rules for potting or not potting?

Seedfork said:I am further south in Alabama but I am potting some now, just transferring others directly in the garden now. I think you could do it at almost any time in central Alabama, @Kabby could tell better she is more center of the state.

Here in Central Florida (9a), we can plant (or pot) daylilies any time of the year, if the need arises. Which is why I didn't want to give my friend any advice on the subject. She's seventy-five, and facing a move she hadn't planned on making, and doesn't need any additional problems to deal with right now.

Caveat: planting in certain months isn't necessarily the best time to do it, but it can be done.

John I am saddened for your friend having to move. Does she have a massive amount of daylilies to move? Either way, she can pot them in our zone and hopefully have them in a protected area until time to move. We still have a good month to go of a few freezing temps at night.
Peak bloom for me is last week of May, first week of June. My planting is done usually by the end of April, things just heat up too soon. If she wants to plant after her daylilies bloom she may prefer to wait til fall.

Kabby said:John I am saddened for your friend having to move. Does she have a massive amount of daylilies to move? Either way, she can pot them in our zone and hopefully have them in a protected area until time to move. We still have a good month to go of a few freezing temps at night.
Peak bloom for me is last week of May, first week of June. My planting is done usually by the end of April, things just heat up too soon. If she wants to plant after her daylilies bloom she may prefer to wait til fall.

Not a large quantity, I think. She lives in a planned urban development, where she has a berm behind her patio. She will be moving to a free-standing house, and will have more room for plants when she moves. It is sad, because she and her husband haven't lived there for a very long time.

That's always a good thing, having more room for plants! I don't know of her husband's disabilities but maybe he could be in the yard with her while she digs. My husband enjoys watching the joy on my face as I wander among my flowers.