How to Plant a Lily

Prepare the soil in the lily's planting location in the fall, before the first frost of winter in your location. The patch of soil should contain full to partial sun with a pH of 6.5. If you are unsure of your soil's pH, purchase a soil testing kit from a garden center.

Loosen the soil to 8 inches deep with a spade. Amend the soil afterward if the soil test reveals a pH that is not equal to 6.5. Lime will raise a pH below 6.5 and peat moss will lower a pH above the desired target range. Mix the amendment in with the soil according to manufacturer's directions.

Dig a hole for the lily bulb using a garden trowel. The depth of the hole should measure three times the height of the lily bulb. So, if your lily bulb is 2 inches tall, the hole should measure 6 inches deep. If you would like to plant more than one lily, space the holes 18 inches apart.

Place the lily bulb in the bottom of the hole, roots spread. Cover the lily bulb with soil and pat it to remove air pockets. Water the bulb immediately using a garden hose. Moisten the soil to a 1-inch depth. No more watering is necessary until new growth begins to develop in the spring.

Spread 3 inches of mulch over the lily's location. Bark chips, straw or leaf litter work best to protect the lily bulb over the winter and improve drainage. In the spring, the lily will work its way through the mulch and begin its growth cycle above the soil line.