11 Gardening Tips For Growing Lilies This Spring

Spring is the unadulterated time to set the degree for a breathless display of lilies in your garden . These elegant perennial , aboriginal to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere — including species like the Easter lily ( Lilium longiflorum ) from Japan and Taiwan , and the hardy Panthera tigris lily ( Lilium lancifolium ) from easterly Asia — are in the main non - invasive when properly managed . I know how thrilling it is to see those first sturdy stems emerge , forebode a summer fill with trumpet - form blooms and fragrant delights !

Yet even lily need a little extra TLC to thrive . From choosing the correct species for your climate to protecting tender shoots from late frosts , each step you take now can mean stronger roots , intelligent stalk , and more abundant flower come June and July . I ’ve learn through trial and error how rewarding it is to watch hummingbirds and big carpenter bees flock to your lily once you ’ve create the idealistic condition — so have ’s dive into eleven all important tips that will make your springtime lily engraft a resounding winner .

Improve Soil Drainage and Fertility

Lilies demand well - draining stain rich in organic matter . arduous Lucius DuBignon Clay or wad bottom can smother bulbs , leading to rot and scrawny ontogenesis . I once plant bulbs in an unamended garden bed and determine them languish — until I dug in compost and coarse grit to create a loose , friable mix . The remainder was astonishing : within weeks , roots race downwardly , anchoring strong shoot that later bore full , vivacious blossom !

rectify your planting site with aged compost or well - moulder manure not only boosts nourishing levels but also enhances soil structure . That ’s crucial for lilies like the Asiatic hybrids ( non - invasive and native to various parts of Asia ) which want reliable moisture retention without “ wet feet . ” A well - organize bed means you ’ll drop less time trouble-shoot and more time admiring those gorgeous bloom .

Select the Right Lily Species for Your Climate

With dozens of lily types — Asian , Oriental , Trumpet , and more — couple your region ’s atmospheric condition to a suitable cultivar is key . In cool climates , hardy options like the Ellen Price Wood lily ( Lilium philadelphicum ) , native to North America and non - invasive , dependably withstand frosts . In warm areas , consider Lilium longiflorum hybrids , which thrive in milder winter but may struggle if temperature plunge below 20 ° degree Fahrenheit .

search your USDA hardiness zone and evaluate sun photograph . I once planted Oriental lilies ( crossbreed derive from the native Japanese Lilium speciosum ) in a smirch that freeze solid at night , and I lost half my clumps . switch to Asian cultivar brought success — those smorgasbord love full sun and warmth , rewarding me with a dazzling regalia of color all summer long !

Plant Bulbs at the Proper Depth

Correct planting depth prevents heave during freeze – thaw cycles and encourages full-bodied root systems . As a general rule , set bulbs two to three times their height below the soil surface . I identify this the hard fashion when shallow - planted bulbs come out out after a cold child’s play — replant them deeper ensured they stayed put and sprouted strong stem !

Deep planting also buffers soil temperature fluctuations , lively for metal money like the Madonna lily ( Lilium candidum ) , aboriginal to the Balkans and debate non - invading . With bulb safely insulate , you ’ll see more uniform increment across your bottom rather than patchy emergence .

Ensure Full Sun Exposure

Most lily demand at least six to eight 60 minutes of unmediated sun daily to bloom fully . I once tried tuck my lilies into a partly shaded border for cockcrow shade — but they responded with lanky bow and few flower . Moving them into a sunlit situation transformed them into sturdy , fecund bloomers !

sun fuels photosynthesis and essential oil production , enhancing both blush size and fragrancy . Plus , brilliant sites tend to stick around desiccant , reduce mildew and rot — vulgar foes for wet - loving lily beetles and fungal pathogen likewise .

Mulch to Regulate Soil Temperature

A two - column inch stratum of constitutive mulch — like shredded barque or folio mold — serve asseverate consistent soil warmth and moisture . In spring , I mulch around the new shoot of tiger lily ( Lilium lancifolium ) and Easter lilies ( Lilium longiflorum ) to screen delicate radical from later cold snaps and drying wind .

Mulch also suppresses pot that compete for water and nutrient , so you pass less sentence weed and more metre enjoying your blooms . And by bear on moisture , lilies establish firm antecedent systems that power their good , stately stalking !

Divide and Replant Overcrowded Bulbs

Every three to four years , lift and divide crowded clumps to maintain vigor . Overcrowding guide to smaller flowers and skinny growth . I once neglected this task and ended up with a mass of thin staunch that just held up their blossoms ! rive the bulblets and replant them like a shot gave each works room to grow robust roots and produce spectacular , full blooms .

Dividing in spring — just as shoots set out to seem — minimizes transplantation shock . It ’s also a great chance to refresh your stain mix with tonic compost and insure each bulb has ample space for year - round health .

Stake Tall Varieties to Prevent Flopping

Trumpet and Oriental lilies can reach heights of 4–6 feet , and sullen flower heads can topple unsupported stem turn in wind or pelting . I learned this after a tempest battered my trumpet lilies — staking them early in springtime with soft ties kept them upright through their full bloom hertz !

Proper support not only preserves the fresh line of your garden but also ensures flowers are n’t ping into the mulch , where moisture and disease could spread . unassailable , vertical shank also supply perfect perches for hummingbirds , which can become frequent visitors once your lilies full open .

Implement Pest Monitoring and Control

The carmine lily beetle and aphids love feast on lily foliage and bud . Early spotting is crucial : inspect leaf and stems weekly and remove pests by hand or spray with insecticidal easy lay . I once found a cluster of adult beetles on my Asiatic lily and , after a brisk morning of removal , forfend a full - blown infestation that could ’ve decimate my plants !

encourage beneficial marauder , like ladybird beetle and lacewings , by planting associate blossom such as genus Alyssum ( Lobularia maritima , aboriginal to the Mediterranean , non - invasive ) helps keep pest populations in check . The front of these helpful insects also bespeak a levelheaded , biodiverse garden ecosystem .

Fertilize with Balanced Nutrients

Lilies apprize a balanced , slow - waiver fertilizer apply in early outpouring as shoot come out . A formulation like 10 - 10 - 10 provide nitrogen for foliage , Lucifer for root and prime development , and potassium for overall plant life health . I gently make for a light handful around each clump , taking charge not to let granule touch the radical , then water thoroughly to spark off alimentary uptake !

invalidate high - N blend , which can acquire lush leaves but few flowers . With the right balance , you ’ll enjoy a bountifulness of blooms and strong halt that resist lodgment and stress !

Encourage Pollinators and Beneficial Insects

While lilies are n’t the top nectar source for bees , their turgid flowers can draw bumblebees and hoverflies when planted alongside ambrosia - copious comrade . I interplant my lilies with catmint ( Nepeta × faassenii , native to Europe and Asia , non - invasive ) , which draws in pollinators that also explore nearby lily blooms .

Leaving a few bare soil patches or providing small megabucks of hollow stems invites priming coat - nest bee to take hall . Their busy flights not only aid in pollination of spring ephemeral but also tally delightful motion to your garden as they dart among the lilies !

Protect from Late Frosts and Cold Damage

Even brave lilies can abide if a surprisal frost settle after shoots emerge . Cover emerging clumps with frost cloth or lite material on parky nights , and bump off screening by mid - morning to permit sun and flow of air . I ’ve rescued tender tips this way more than once , ensuring no black eye delays the glorious display I ’ve worked for !

For potted lilies , consider moving container to sheltered spots or even a service department during the coldest hours . That unsubdivided overnight protection can translate into full , unmutilated blooms and less stress for you come display time !