How to Grow Lilium

Lilium are flowering perennials, commonly called lilies, that grow from bulbs and come in a variety of colors and heights. There are over 100 different species of lilies and they are grown to enhance your landscape area. This carefree perennial attracts hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden. The flowers can be used in floral arrangements and are often used by florists. Lily bulbs can be purchased at most garden supply stores, through catalogs or online. Once you receive your bulbs, it is important to plant them right away.

Garden fork
Compost
Bone meal
Stakes
Waterproof marker
20-20-20 fertilizer
Mulch

Instructions

- 1
  Examine your yard to find the right location to plant the lily. Although lilies can grow in an area with filtered shade, try to choose an area that has full to partial sun for better growth.
- 2
  Dig the ground with a garden fork or tiller, working up the ground to a depth of 12 inches. Incorporate 2 to 3 inches of compost into the soil. Compost helps improve the soil's drainage, and provides nutrients in the ground for a healthier lily plant.
- 3
  Dig holes 6 to 8 inches deep, and make the planting holes as wide as the lily bulb. Space each planting hole 6 to 8 inches apart.
- 4
  Add 2 tsp. of bone meal into the planting hole and mix this into the hole at the bottom.
- 5
  Inspect the lily bulb to discover which end is the top and bottom. The scales should be pointing up toward the top of the bulb. The top comes to a point, while the flat and fatter side is the bottom. Place the bulb so the bottom of the bulb goes into the hole first. Cover the hole with amended soil, but do not firm it in place.
- 6
  Mark the each bulb with a stake so you know where they are planted. Write on the stakes with a waterproof marker if you are planting different varieties and want to keep track of them.
- 7
  Water the lily garden only to moisten the soil. Lilium do not like wet conditions, nor do they require any more moisture until they have sprouted. After they are growing, water them once or twice a week when the soil is dry. To test the soil, stick your finger into the ground up to the second knuckle. If the ground is still damp, don't water them.
- 8
  Feed the lilium with a 20-20-20 fertilizer just before and right after flowering. Do not fertilize in the fall because this can make the bulbs soft and they will rot. Apply the fertilizer according to label directions.
- 9
  Cut back the stalks after the plant has completely died back. This happens late in the fall. Do not cut the leaves if they are green because they are storing up nutrients for the winter.
- 10
  Cover the lilium garden with a 3- to 4-inch layer of mulch. This helps protect the bulbs from freezing or fluctuating temperatures.

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