How to Care for Asiatic Lilies in a Clay Base
A member of the genus Lilium, the Asiatic lily stretches to heights between 12 and 18 inches at maturity. The Asiatic lily produces trumpet shaped flowers in shades of white, cream, blue-violet or purple, which measure 3 to 6 inches and bloom in mid-summer. Although Asiatic lilies prefer loamy soil, gardeners with clay soil should not rule out growing these showy flowers. In fact, a clay base contains an abundance of minerals that will increase vigor in the Asiatic lilies. With proper care and preparation, both the clay based soil and the Asiatic lilies will become a perfect match. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Soil testing kit
- Pitchfork
- Lime or peat moss
- Organic compost
- Coarse sand
- Garden hose
- Mulch
Instructions
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Test the soil before planting the Asiatic lilies, using a soil testing kit purchased from a garden center. Most lilies prefer soil with a pH of 6.5. If the pH of your clay soil does not meet these requirements, you will need to amend in order for the Asiatic lilies to thrive.
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Amend the clay soil after breaking it up with a pitchfork. Mix lime in with the clay base if the pH is below 6.5 or peat moss if the soil pH is above 6.5. Add the required amendments per label instructions.
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Add a 3- to 4-inch layer of organic compost to the clay soil. Add a 3- to 4-inch layer of coarse sand on top of the organic compost. Mix the compost and coarse sand in with the clay soil, evenly. Turn the clay soil over with a hoe or sturdy shovel, blending the planting medium. The addition of the compost and course sand will help to make the clay soil airier and lighter, giving the roots of the Asiatic lilies plenty of room for expansion. The addition of compost and coarse sand will also improve drainage.
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Plant Asiatic lily bulbs 4 to 6 inches below the soil line, in the fall. Pat the soil over the lily bulbs after planting to remove air pockets. Planting the bulbs before the first frost will yield a beautiful display of Asiatic lilies in the spring.
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Water the Asiatic bulbs generously after planting, using a garden hose. Water the soil weekly to keep it moist up until the first frost of winter. After the winter, water the bulbs once they begin to sprout when the weather is dry.
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Apply a 3- to 4-inch layer of mulch over the Asiatic bulbs to protect them from the winter chill. A layer of pine bark chips or straw will also increase water retention and reduce weed growth around the Asiatic lilies.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are unsure whether your soil is clay-based, moisten the soil and pick up a small amount in your hand. If the soil crumbles when you squeeze it, it probably has a sand base. If it sticks together, and does not crumble with compression, it is most likely a clay-based soil.
Well-amended clay soil will not require fertilizer.
Only use coarse sand for amending soil. Play sand has smaller granules that will become compact when wet, defeating the purpose of amending the clay.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit asiatic lilies image by Scott Dorrett from Fotolia.com
