Things You'll Need:
- Mulch
- Fertilizer
- Stakes
- Water
- Lily bulbs (tubers)
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Step 1
Plant your lily bulbs in the fall. According to Brecks.com, the bulbs are actually tubers (see Resources). The tubers are made up of fleshy scales and lack a protective covering. Lily tubers never go totally dormant as do other bulb flowers. When handling your lily tubers, do so with care because they tend to lose moisture rapidly.
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Step 2
Find a spot on a sloping hill, as the slope will provide necessarily drainage. If you can, plant your lilies in the midst of other plants, which will provide needed shade for the root system and the bulb.
Lilies may survive in a shaded location, but might not bloom. For ideal results, plant them in a sunny location. When covering the bulbs with dirt, make sure that the soil is only about an inch above the crown. -
Step 3
Use organic matter, such as compost or leaf mold, which should be mixed into your soil prior to planting. Day lilies can tolerate poor soil, but the ideal condition for growth is well-drained soil that is slightly acidic.
When you put the bulb/tuber into the ground, make sure that the scales are facing upward and the roots are facing downward. Don't make the mistake of planting the lily bulb upside down. For the best visual outcome, plant the lilies in groups of three or more. The lilies should be space approximately 12 inches apart. -
Step 4
Spread a generous layer of mulch--pine needles, straw leaves--over the planted bulbs to provide protection during the winter months. This covering will prevent sprouts from coming up too early. Early spring sprouts can be damaged by a late frost.
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Step 5
Water the area where you have planted the bulbs a couple of times before freezing occurs.
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Step 6
Apply nitrogen fertilizer when the green leaves are growing and then use phosphorus and potassium fertilizer when the flowers are blooming. According to lilies.org, the best fertilizer to use in early spring after the shoots have emerged is 10-10-10 (see Resources). Apply smaller feedings throughout the season but do not let the fertilizer come into direct contact with the bulbs. Always water when fertilizing.
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Step 7
Consider staking your lilies. since they can become top-heavy if the blooms are large. Ideally, place your stakes in the ground when you plant your bulbs to avoid spearing the bulb. During the growing season, tie the stems to the stake, but do it as naturally and attractively as possible. Don't tie them too tightly because this can strangle the stems.
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Step 8
Water your lilies frequently. Lilies actually like to be soaked, which you can do by turning on the hose and letting it run for a while, saturating the area. Overhead sprinkling may cause disease, so avoid this.
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Step 9
Fertilize your lilies 30 days after they have reached the peak of their blooming period. In the late fall, do not remove the dead foliage from the lilies. This will provide protection during the winter.
