i bought a home in Anoka, MN in late winter
so not knowing what was planted, i let everything come up.
I now have a jungle of what people think may be some type of lillie
no flowers yet but the dead weeds i pulled out early spring were at least 4 feet tall.
the greens look very healthy, however there is just to many of them or it looks a mess.
can i dig them up? move them? thin them?
i need help
Angie

Hi Angie, and welcome A picture of the area would be really helpful. Also if you could complete your personal profile with your location (city, zone etc.) that really helps with answering questions, too.

If the lilies are just barely poking out of the ground, you probably could move or thin them if you're quite careful. But this is certainly not the best time to do it and it could compromise their bloom or set them back for next year. After they bloom, when the foliage is starting to fade is most likely the best time.

But first we need to have a look at a picture to see what you're dealing with. If the lilies grew 4ft tall last year, and if the stems were cut off at the top that would indicate they grew pretty well and bloomed last year. It would be a shame to miss out on those lovely blooms this year if you don't have to.

I agree with Elaine, a picture of the area of the garden would help to answer your question. I checked a hardiness zone map site for your location and it said Anoka, MN, is USDA hardiness zone 4a, does that seem about right?

If you can't post a picture of your plants, maybe you could tell us which of these pictures look most like the plant you are dealing with. Daylily leaves all come from the ground and arch whereas true lilies have a stem with smaller leaves coming off sideways all the way up. Do they look like either of these?

Post a picture if you can take one, Sue's posted photos show the difference between daylilies and lilies which should help you figure out what you have.

I live in Minnesota in zone 4, my lilies are already quite tall and I would not move them this time of the year. Fall would be much better, if you do it now they likely would not bloom this year.