How to Grow Painted Lady Lilies

Select a sunny site with well-drained soil. Prepare the flowerbed several days before planting in spring, after all danger of frost has passed. Use the shovel or tiller to turn the earth to a depth of 8 to 12 inches.

Use the rake to drag any rocks or large pebbles out of the site. Break up large dirt clods with the shovel or your fingers. Rake the surface of the flowerbed smooth and water the site thoroughly.

Use the hand trowel to dig a planting hole 3 inches deep and about 2 inches wide, or as deep as the Painted Lady plants currently sit in their nursery pots. If you plant more than one Painted Lady, dig the holes about 2 feet apart so the plants will not crowd one another as they mature.

Place one plant in the center of each planting hole. Backfill the hole with the dirt excavated while digging the hole and lightly tamp the soil down around the base of the plant. Water thoroughly. If the soil settles after watering, add enough soil to bring the top of the planting hole level with the surrounding soil.

Keep the plant moist at all times. Spread 1 to 3 inches of mulch around the plants to help preserve moisture and keep the roots cool in summer. Cut back on watering after the plant finishes flowering, around September.

Fertilize annually in early spring. If the plants become thick and flowering begins to suffer, divide the clump into two plants and transplant the two halves 2 feet apart.