Transplanting iris and daylillies?

I have recently transplanted some iris and daylillies but have a lot left. We are expecting our first frost tonight (Tenn.). It it okay to store them in the dark garage until spring or do I need to try to plant them immediatley.

Transplanting iris and daylillies?
The Daylilies you can store. I have and they do fine. They won't bloom the year you plant them, but the next year they bloom(and grow...and grow...and grow...).





I don't know about Iris. I transplanted mine in May.
Reply:I really do not think it matters. Outside I have dug a hole and buried the plants or I just threw them in large pots and covered with dirt. They grow until winter kill then next year I just replant wherever. They should be hardy. As far as storing them in the garage I would not leave them uncovered or unpotted – they do need dirt around them. They should be partially dormant but should survive. In all cases keep them from getting wet and rotting. You can plant them when ever, the frost will have no effect on the true life of the plant even if it kills the leaves.
Reply:I would go ahead and plant them. There are so many things to consider when storing tuber, bulb, or rhizomes such as temperature, light, and moisture. Usually before you can store them you need to remove all soil and let them air dry for quite a while. Then once you are sure the are completely dry then you store them in a box with fine wood shavings or shredded newspaper. Unless you have no choice then going ahead and planting them would be much less work and you are pretty much guaranteed that they will return in spring whereas anything can go wrong with storage.


Good Luck
Reply:Either way they should be OK, if they're kept cool and dry. I'm still in the process of transplanting lilies and iris and I live in Tennessee too. I've done it both ways here with equal success.