When daylilies’ days are over

I have planted daylilies for the first time. They are no longer blooming, but I don’t know what to do next. Should I cut the dead stalks and the leaves? When is the best time to do that?
Will Coltharp, the president of the Middle Tennessee Daylily Society, says they often get questions about what to do with those dead stalks, called scapes. “Personally, I let the scapes dry naturally on the plant, and only when they detach easily from the plant after a gentle tug do I take them off the plant,” he says. Pulling them off before they are ready to detach themselves risks damage to the crown of the plant.
If the dried scapes bother you, you could cut the top half off to make the bed look neater, “but that would be an awful lot of work if you have many daylilies,” he says. Leave the leaves alone.
Will says that one of the great things about daylilies is that they don’t require much care. Adequate water to keep their roots strong as they go into winter is about all they need right now.
If you get more into growing daylilies and want to meet some like-minded people, check out the Middle Tennessee Daylily Society, whose next meeting is Aug. 27, 10 a.m., at Connell Methodist Church in Goodlettsville. Visitors are always welcome, Will says.