Lilies are the movie stars of the flower world. Not only are they elegant and graceful, but their perfume also lifts the level of any garden space.
While growing lilies in your garden will immediately elevate the sophistication of your landscape, there are a few things you should know before planting them.
In this post, we will guide you from bulb selection to planting so that you can successfully grow these beauties for yourself.
We will also discuss the best varieties suited for your gardening landscape.
Whether you’re an experienced gardener or a novice we will help you explore the world of lilies and learn how to grow these beautiful blooms in your own backyard.
Helpful Products from Amazon for Growing Lilies
Choosing the Right Variety When Growing Lilies
Similar to picking out a new outfit, choosing the appropriate lilies for your garden requires you to discover something that fits your unique style and enhances your entire appearance.
Fortunately, there are many lily types to pick from, and each one has its own special traits and qualities.
Asiatic lilies have strong stems and offer vibrant colors, as well an early blooming season. They are the workhorses of the lily world. They are extremely hardy and a fantastic option for novices because of their exceptional versatility.
The Trumpet and Aurelian lilies, which are renowned for their spectacular size and scent, come next.
These are the diva lily plants that require a lot of care and attention but reward you with a stunning display of color and scent.
The Oriental lilies are a good option if you’re searching for something a little more unique. These stunning flowers are prized for their elaborate designs, exquisite hues, and alluring scent. They also require particular soil conditions and a longer growing season than other lily kinds, making them a little bit more picky.
The Longiflorum lily is an additional option and is a traditional selection for Easter and other springtime occasions. This lily is a representation of purity and rebirth thanks to its snow-white petals and exquisite scent.
When planting any flower, it is critical to think about your garden’s growing conditions.
Does it get enough sunlight? Too much shade? Is the soil heavy clay or well-drained? It’s important to select the species of lily that will do best in the growing conditions you have available because these elements can impact the success of your plants.
Preparing Your Garden For Growing Lilies
We have already discussed how growing lilies in the garden can elevate your garden with their elegant and fragrant display, but how do you go about planting them?
Before you begin, it’s important to properly prepare your garden for planting lilies.
The most important part of any gardening venture is to ensure that your garden has soil that is rich in organic matter.
Adding compost or well-aged manure to the top few inches of soil can help provide the necessary nutrients to successfully grow lilies.
If you find your soil is very compacted, you can add vermiculite or peat moss to help improve the drainage. This will also improve the moisture retention making it easier for the lilies you plant to grow and thrive.
When planting bulbs, choose an area in your garden the receives a full day of sunlight. Lilies tend to droop in shaded areas. To produce those elegant stems, you will want to make sure your lilies are receiving at least 6-8 hours of sunlight a day.
Once you have established your growing location, it’s time for the fun part! You’re ready to start planting!
Planting Your Lilies
Once you have chosen a variety or varieties to plant in your garden, it’s time to start planting your lilies!
The best time of year to plant lilies is in the spring after the soil has warmed up a bit and it can be worked.
Take care when handling the bulbs. They do not have a papery protective layer such as daffodils or other hardy bulbs.
First, dig a hole that’s three times the size of the bulb’s diameter. I like to add organic bone meal when planting. Mix well into the hole before placing your lily bulbs. Place the bulb in the hole with the root end facing down.
It should be planted about 6 inches deep for most varieties of lilies.
Make sure to space your bulbs 8 to 10 inches apart, or follow any spacing recommendations on the bulb’s packaging.
Cover the bulbs with soil and lightly tamp them down with your hands.
Once planted, mulch your bulbs with 2 to 4 inches of organic material like leaves or straw. This will help insulate your bulbs and keep them warm in cold weather. Also, make sure to water your lilies after planting so they can establish their roots quickly.
Caring For Your Lilies
Lilies are fairly easy to care for but there are a few things to play close attention to to ensure the health and longevity of your blooms.
Fertilizing: Your lilies should be fertilized regularly throughout the growing season. You can do this by adding a balanced fertilizer to the soil every two weeks from when the first shoots start to emerge. Additionally, an extra boost of potassium-rich fertilizer in late summer will encourage more blooms and stronger stems.
Pruning and Deadheading: Once your lilies have finished flowering, you should deadhead the spent blossoms. This will encourage the plant to continue blooming and also keep it looking neat and tidy. If you notice any yellowed or wilted leaves on the stems, prune them back as well.
Pest and Disease Control: To protect your lilies from pests, you should inspect them regularly and take action if necessary. Aphids and slugs can be a particular problem, so keeping an eye out for them is important. The most notorious pest of lilies is the Scarlet Lily Beetle. They can very quickly devour a lily and must be dealt with quickly.
Neem oil will kill young larvae and should be applied every 5-7 days. For adult beetles, Diatomaceous Earth spread around the base of stems and leaves will help control their population.
If you notice any signs of disease, such as yellowing or wilting leaves, you should remove the affected areas and discard them.
Staking and Support: Like other tall growing plants, some lily varieties can benefit from support.
Place a sturdy stake next to each stem and use garden ties or other supports to keep them standing upright. As the plant matures, you may need to add additional stakes to help support larger flower stems. You will be happy to have taken these measures to support your lilies, especially after a hard rain that can otherwise flatten the plants out.
Final Thoughts
Lilies are a lovely addition to any garden scape. Their show-stoping blooms and regal appearance can transform a garden bed in an instance!
By choosing the best variety for you gardenscape and following a few simple suggestions, you can enjoy a blooming lily garden this growing season.
Let us know in the comments below if you plan on growing lilies this year.
