How to Plant Liliums

Plant liliums in a location that will receive at least six hours of sun a day. Space the bulbs 12 to 18 inches apart.

Amend the planting soil with 3 to 4 inches of compost, organic material or peat humus. Work the compost into the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches, using a tiller or a shovel. Lilium plants prefer to grow in rich, loamy soil that drains well. Clay-based or sandy soils retain water and can cause lilium bulbs to rot.

Dig a hole in the amended soil for the lilium bulb, using a shovel. Although certain lilium bulbs require different planting depths, the general rule is to plant lilium bulbs to a depth three times the length of the bulb.

Sprinkle 1 to 2 tbsp. bone meal in the bottom of the planting hole. Bone meal provides extra food to the bulb as it develops.

Place the lilium bulb on top of the bone meal, at the bottom of the hole, with the pointed end up.

Cover the bulb and fill the hole with with the amended soil. After the hole is filled, gently tap down the soil by hand or foot to remove air pockets within the soil and to create good soil-to-bulb contact.

Water the planted lilium bulb thoroughly to compact the soil, further eliminate air pockets and increase soil contact with the bulb.

Fertilize the lilium plant with a low nitrogen fertilizer, such as 5-10-10 or 10-20-20, when the stem of the flower begins to emerge and the stem is 3 to 4 inches tall. Follow the instructions on the fertilizer package, or sprinkle 2 to 3 tbsp. fertilizer around the base of the lilium plant. Lilium plants will require just one annual feeding.

Mulch around the lilium plant to keep the soil moist -- never water logged. Lilium plants like moist soil but can tolerate brief periods of dryness.