Question
I have HUGE flower gardens on our farm between Echo and Granite Falls, MN, whichi is in SW MN.   My daylilies, iris, and most of my other perrenial flowers are looking half dead (or even almost dead).  I have heard that this is a result of a fungis that weakened the plants that came up in March/April and then got hit with frost after they had emerged so early.   Are these plants going to be ok next year?  Early this fall, like in another month, I want to devide many of these flowers and also move some of them (as I am dismantling an entire flower bed.  Do I dare do this?  Will they root and grow?  I really want to do this -this fall so I can move them into my two huge flower gardens that I have and know where I want to plant them (because I can see what other flowers are growing around the open spots where I lost manyflowers from this past winter.   I need some advice.  Any advice would be greatly appriceiated.

Answer
Hi Audrey,
Thanx for your question.  Are you certain that your flowers all succumbed to a fungus?  Much of the US is experiening various degrees of drought which will affect plant growth either killing the plants or causing them to go into early dormancy where they may appear dead or dying.  Has your area experienced drought?  Before you move any of those plants to a new bed, you should take samples of your plants to your local county extension agent for his/her diagnosis.  You don't want to move any plants from a diseased bed to a clean bed.  Many plants can survive a fungus infestation but not look too great only to come back nice and healthy the next year.  Here is a link to the Yellow Medicine County Extension Office.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/county/template/index.aspx?countyID=89  check with them first about the fungus.  If you no longer have an infestation, you may move your plants now but you should probably wait until early autumn to reduce stress on already stressed plants.  When you move to the new bed be sure and water them very well and side dress them with well-composted cow manure.  I hope this helps.
Tom