Liles for the garden
Liles
are one of the most striking and beautiful plants in the
garden,
and most gardeners
will work with these beautiful plants at least once or twice
in their lives. Lilies can add beauty and drama to any garden,
and they are very popular flowers for indoor display as well.
Lilies are popular in many contexts, from giving a beautiful
contrast to a winter rock garden, to providing a beautiful
accent to surrounding shrubs and trees.
No matter how the lily is displayed, and whether it is
enjoyed indoors or out, there are some important things
to know about these wonderful plants. This article focuses
on some of the most frequently asked questions about choosing,
planting, caring for and enjoying lilies.
When should I plant my lilies?
The best time to plant lilies is in either the spring or
fall of the year. Regardless of the time of year, however,
it is important to get the bulbs in the ground as soon as
possible after purchasing them. Unlike many other types
of bulbs, lily bulbs do not store well.
What is the difference between a daylily and a garden lily?
The plant known to gardeners as the garden lily is grown
from a bulb, but the plant known as the daylily actually
grows from a corm. In addition, the daylily contains many
leaves that grow from the corm, but the garden lily contains
only one shoot that contains leaves. That shoot grows directly
from the bulb.
How deep should lily bulbs be planted?
The general rule of thumb for many types of bulbs, including
lily bulbs, is to plant them three times as deep as the
bulbs are wide. For instance, a two inch wide lily bulb
would be planted to a depth of six inches In addition, lilies
should be planted in groups for the best effect when they
bloom. It is a good idea to dig a hole to the proper depth,
then plant several bulbs together in that hole.
How do I propagate lilies?
Garden lilies are best propagated through breaking off a
few of their scales in the spring or fall and planting them
approximately one inch deep. Daylilies can be propagated
by dividing the corms and planting them. In addition, some
lilies will produce bulbils, which may appear to be black
or dark green seeds. These bulbils are found at the point
at which the lily leaf meets the stem. Even though these
bulbils are not really seeds, they can be planted, and they
will emerge within two or three years of planting.
Should I cut back my lily after it has finished blooming?
After the lily has bloomed, it is best to remove only the
stem itself. That is because garden lilies will continue
to feed off their foliage, and lilies that are left to die
off naturally tend to grow better the next year. On the
other hand, daylilies usually bloom for longer periods of
time. The blooming season of daylilies can be extended if
the gardener deadheads the blooms and cuts back the stems.
After the blooming season is over, the foliage on the daylily
should be allowed to die back naturally.
Can Easter lilies be planted outside?
Many people are interested in planting their Easter lilies
outside, and it is fine to attempt that. The main problem
with Easter lilies is that they do not bloom naturally at
Easter time. Easter lilies are actually forced to bloom
at that time of year by the florist. This forced blooming
can make it harder for the lily to grow properly once it
is transplanted.
If you plan
to transplant your Easter lily after you have enjoyed it
outside, the following steps will help increase your chances
of its survival:
- Plant the lily in a sunny spot using well drained soil
- Use a good, high quality planting mix
- Plant the bulbs three inches under the surface of the
soil and also place an additional three inches of soil on
the top
- Allow enough space for the lily to spread its roots
- Water the newly transplanted lily thoroughly
