How to Make Bloom Striped Trumpet Lily

Prepare a planting area in fall that receives at least six hours of sun every day. Amend the soil by digging one part organic compost with every four parts of soil. To judge these amounts, shovel soil into a wheelbarrow and then estimate one-fourth its volume of compost. Combine soil and compost and return the mixture to your planting area.

Dig one hole for each bulb you plan to grow. If you use a bulb planting tool, your holes will be the correct depth and width. If you use a trowel, make holes about 4 inches deep and at least the width of your bulbs. Make planting holes about 12 inches apart.

Measure ¼ cup of bone meal and then empty it into the bottom of a planting hole. Then set one bulb into each hole with bone meal, orienting the bulb so its pointed end is on top. Fill the hole with your soil and compost blend and water with a sprinkler for 15 to 20 minutes.

Mulch your planting area by covering the soil with 3 to 4 inches of mulch, which can be your organic compost, pine needles, hay or straw, rotted leaves or other organic materials.

Fertilize in early spring when your bulbs begin to sprout. Use a blossom booster plant food with an N-P-K ratio of 0-10-10: these numbers show how much nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are contained. The lack of nitrogen will cause the plants to flower instead of forming excessive foliage.

Drive plant stakes into the soil about 2 inches from the base of each lily as it grows tall. Tie the plant to its stake with nursery tape or fabric strips to avoid breaking the tender stem.