How to Trim Fortnight Lilies

Fortnight lilies have the botanical name of Dietes iridioides and also go by the common name of African iris. They grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 8 through 10, where they are evergreens. The flowers last for only one day each, and appear in the spring and summer, displaying sword-shaped petals. Trimming fortnight lilies is different than trimming other lilies, especially with regard to the flower stalks. Annual trimming to neaten the plant is required.

Hand pruners
Pruning shears

Instructions

- 1
  Examine the fortnight lily plant daily once blooming commences and identify the wilted flowers. Trim only the wilted flower head off the stems by cutting them 1/4 inch below the wilted bloom with hand pruners. Repeat this process daily or every two days throughout the fall.
- 2
  Examine the fortnight lily in mid to late spring and locate any seed pods, which are round papery projections at the top of the stems. Cut the seed pods off 1/4 inch below the base using hand pruners to direct the nutrients and water to the root system to develop new growth.
- 3
  Wait until January to perform major pruning of the fortnight lily. Look at the foliage near the base of the plant which is typically dead and brown. Gather up the dead foliage in the one hand and cut them off near the soil line using hand pruners. Work your way around the perimeter of the plant to remove the remaining dead leaves.

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