Lilies: Planting and Care

Learn how to plant and care for lilies! Lilies are hardy in zones 4-9 and they can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked. Start by selecting a site that has well-draining soil and receives full sun. Lilies can handle a bit of shade but will do best in an area that receives at least 6 hours of sun per day.

Lily bulbs should be planted 6-8 inches deep and 6-8 inches apart. Since the lily does not have a protecting coating like a tulip or daffodil it’s important to handle them with care. Dig a hole that is six to eight inches deep and place the lily bulb point side up and root side down into the hole. Cover back up with soil and add a layer of mulch to suppress weeds and maintain moisture levels. Once new growth emerges, water regularly. The plant will first send up a lovely spike of foliage and then will bloom in a few months.

Lilies make wonderful cut flowers. For the longest vase life harvest in the early morning or late evening when the buds are fully colored, and the bottom flower is just starting to open. Try to cut only the length you need for an arrangement, leaving as many leaves behind as possible, so that the bulb can replenish itself for next year.

Lily pollen is very messy and will stain, so as the lilies open remove the pollen anthers by either cutting them off or taking a tissue and pulling the pollen upward and off. Add floral preservative to the water to maintain the lilies color.

Once the lily flowers fade in the garden, simply remove the spent blooms by snipping them off. Allow the foliage to continue to grow until they naturally turn yellow and die back in the fall. At that time, you can cut the stock down to an inch above the soil surface. The lily will return again next year for gardeners in zones 4-9 with no additional care. Gardeners in zones 3, 10, 11 should treat lilies as annuals.

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