How and when to plant lilies

The incomparable, regal beauty lily conquers the hearts of flower growers. Every year the range of varieties grows, new varieties appear, striking in size, color and shape of flowers.

Growing this luxurious plant, which decorates garden plots throughout the season, will not be difficult. In order for this symbol of sophistication, beauty and grace to please for as long as possible, it is necessary to follow certain rules for planting and caring for lilies in the open ground.

When to plant lilies in open ground in spring

You can plant lily bulbs not only in spring, but also in early autumn. However, at the end of summer it is very difficult to find high-quality planting material suitable for planting. Therefore, experienced flower growers plant lilies in the spring, and prefer to transplant or plant flowers in early autumn, a few weeks after flowering has completed.

It is very difficult to accurately determine the timing of planting lilies in the spring. They depend on:

  • climatic conditions;
  • specific landing region;
  • varieties and varieties of flowers.

In the central regions and southern Russia, bulbs are planted in mid-to-late April, but in the Siberian region and the Urals, planting work does not begin before mid-May.

Interesting! Lily is a symbol of purity, purity and innocence, glorified by poets and immortalized by famous artists.

The season for planting lilies in the spring begins immediately when the outside temperature reaches +10˚С +14˚С. It is advisable to complete all work before the dry period begins. In this case, the bulbs will take root and quickly begin to grow.

Flowers planted in spring are more resistant to diseases and sudden changes in temperature, are less affected by pests, bloom more profusely and luxuriously, and the survival rate of the bulbs is much higher compared to autumn planting.

Moreover, spring planting of lilies allows you to evaluate the result of the work literally after 2-3 weeks, when the first green arrows appear above the surface of the earth, signaling that the rooting process was successful. In addition, bulbs planted in spring do not get wet or freeze. When planting in autumn, the risk of freezing is very high.

Depending on the variety and variety of lilies, it is advisable to follow the following recommendations regarding planting dates:

  • It is advisable to plant late-flowering oriental hybrid varieties only in spring;
  • tiger and Tibetan, as well as varieties that enter the flowering phase in early autumn, can be planted at the end of March, if weather conditions permit;
  • Asian, tubular and oriental hybrids can be planted as soon as the snow melts and the ground thaws;
  • terry varieties of lilies can be planted in the spring, when the temperature is at least +10˚С +12˚С;
  • other varieties can be planted in April. At the same time, it is necessary to take care of the plants and protect them during spring frosts.
Interesting! Lily is a royal flower. Just a couple of hundred years ago, it decorated the coats of arms and gardens of only crowned persons.

It is undesirable to plant the following varieties in spring:

  • Candidum;
  • Monofraternal;
  • Curly;
  • Hansen;
  • Canadian;
  • Shovitz.

These varieties are planted in open ground only in autumn.

Before determining when and in what month you can plant lilies, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with information regarding the rules for planting the variety you have chosen.

Where to plant lilies in the garden plot

Before planting lilies in the ground in the spring, it is necessary to carry out some preparatory work, which does not take much time.

First of all, before planting flowers, you need to choose the right place where lilies will feel comfortable. The condition of the plants and the abundance of their flowering in the future will depend on how competently you select a suitable site for planting lilies in open ground in the spring.

For these royal beauties, it is advisable to set aside a sunny area, protected from the piercing winds. Places with high groundwater levels, as well as lowlands where meltwater stagnates in the spring or rainwater in the summer, are completely unsuitable for growing lilies.

Prolonged waterlogging of the soil threatens the occurrence of various fungal diseases. The bulbs begin to get wet and rot.In general, flowers lose resistance to diseases and pests, often get sick, and in winter they often simply freeze out.

Interesting! In Germany, this flower is a symbol of death, so the Germans are hostile to it.

If you do not have a suitable place for a flower garden, you can raise the flower beds by 40-50 cm. If you decide to plant lilies in a summer cottage near the house or near a fence, it is better to move 70-80 cm away from the buildings so that rainwater from the roofs does not fall on your flowers.

Shaded areas next to shrubs or trees are completely unsuitable for planting these beautiful flowers. Lush flowering with a lack of sunlight can not be expected. In the shade, lilies will not show the grace, beauty and elegance of which they are capable. The flowers become small and faded, the plant weakens and over time loses its varietal characteristics.

Plants growing nearby are also important. Tall and rapidly growing plants, next to which flowers will regularly experience a lack of nutrients, as well as moisture-loving crops are undesirable neighbors for lilies.

Selection, storage and preparation of planting material

Every gardener knows that the choice and preparation of planting material determines whether the flowers will delight you and decorate your garden plot.

When choosing lilies, much attention is paid to the appearance and density of the bulbs. High-quality and complete bulbs should be large, without signs of fungal diseases, mold, rot or damage.

Advice! It is desirable that the roots on the bulbs do not exceed 4-5 cm in length and do not look dry and lifeless.

The bottom and roots must be clean.It is undesirable to purchase bulbs that have wet spots indicating the onset of rotting. The bulbs should be elastic to the touch, with fleshy scales.

It is advisable to buy lily bulbs shortly before planting. For planting material purchased in advance, it is necessary to create certain conditions for storage.

Lily bulbs should be stored in breathable packaging. Small bags with perforations are kept in a dark, cool room with an air temperature no higher than +4˚С. A dry, ventilated basement or bottom shelf of the refrigerator is a great place to store lily bulbs until planting.

During long-term storage, even if all conditions are met, the bulbs germinate quickly. As soon as signs of germination appear, the bulbs must be removed from the packaging and carefully placed on a shelf so that the stems do not become deformed. Lily bulbs with sprouts should be planted as quickly as possible in the spring, as they can dry out and die.

If weather conditions are not conducive to planting, in this case you can plant the sprouted bulbs in a container with a nutrient substrate. Flowers are grown at home, and when the right moment comes, they are planted in open ground.

Lily bulbs, like other planting material, vary in quality and size. The manufacturer who supplies them to the market is also important. For example, bulbs exported from Holland are already treated during preparation with various preparations to protect flowers from diseases and insects, and do not require pre-planting treatment.

Advice! If you want to propagate flowers as quickly as possible, in order to obtain high-quality planting material, you need to trim the buds while still in the formation phase.

If the bulbs have been stored for longer than two weeks or if you doubt the quality of the purchased lily bulbs, treat them before planting to prevent damage by various fungi and bacteria.

First of all, rinse the planting material under running water, and then treat it with a pink solution of potassium permanganate or in the “Maxim” preparation or its analogues for half an hour. You can also treat lily bulbs before planting in a 0.2% foundation solution for 20-30 minutes.

Dry the treated planting material in a dark, cool, well-ventilated place. The bulbs are now ready for planting. If it is too early to plant lilies, or weather conditions do not allow planting flowers on time, the bulbs can be covered with burlap or other breathable material.

If desired, lily bulbs can be treated a day before planting with epin or other growth stimulants.

The author of the video will share with you the secrets of preparing planting material:

Preparing the soil for planting

Plants belonging to the lily group are quite picky about the composition of the soil. They grow poorly and bloom sparingly in heavy soil. For good growth and luxurious flowering, they need loose, fertile, mineral-rich soil that allows moisture to pass through well. Therefore, it is advisable to prepare the soil for planting lilies in advance, 1-2 weeks before planting.

Heavy, loamy soils with poor drainage capacity are diluted with sand and humus, humus, or peat. Acidified soil is deoxidized using dolomite flour, fluff or chalk.

Important! Under no circumstances should fresh manure be used to enrich the soil, as this can provoke an outbreak of fungal diseases in the bulbs.

The selected area is dug up to a depth of 35-40 cm. During digging, everything weeds and the roots are carefully chosen. The future flower garden is leveled so that there is no stagnation of moisture on it. The prepared area is left alone for a couple of weeks so that the soil warms up well and is saturated with moisture.

Planting lily bulbs in open ground in spring

Before planting lily bulbs, it is advisable to plan the future flower bed in advance. Low-growing varieties are planted along the edges, and tall varieties are planted in the center, so that tall ones do not block sunlight from low plants.

Also, when planning, it is necessary to take into account the size of planting material. Large-sized bulbs take root well, and lilies can bloom within a few months after planting. But small specimens are unlikely to bloom this year or flowering will be sparse.

The algorithm for properly planting lily bulbs in the spring is as follows:

  • Planting holes are prepared, the depth of which depends on the size of the planting material and the type of flowers. On average, the depth of the planting hole should be three times the diameter of the bulb.
  • Sand is poured into a layer of 2-3 cm at the bottom of the hole, an onion is placed on it, and the hole is gradually filled with earth.
  • After planting in the spring, the lily needs abundant watering and subsequent care.
Interesting! “Li-Li” translated from ancient Galician means “white-white”. Other shades of this incomparable flower appeared much later as a result of the work of breeders.

The lily planting scheme is as follows:

  • tall varieties of lilies are planted no deeper than 15-20 cm in increments of 25-30 cm;
  • low-growing - to a depth of 10-12 cm, the minimum distance between flowers will be 15-20 cm;
  • small bulbs are planted at a depth of 5-8 cm, and large ones - 15-20, depending on the size of the planting material;
  • In heavy soil, lily bulbs are buried no more than 5-10 cm, but in loose soil you can plant bulbs 4-8 cm deeper.

Before planting lilies in open ground in the spring, pay attention to the manufacturers' recommendations regarding storage conditions for the bulbs, planting dates and flower planting patterns.

How to plant lilies with sprouts in spring

The planting scheme for sprouted bulbs is slightly different. Lily bulbs with sprouts are planted a couple of weeks later. It is important that young, fragile shoots do not freeze during spring frosts.

Sprouted lily bulbs are planted no earlier than mid-to-late May. When preparing planting holes, take into account the size of the sprouts. Under no circumstances should young shoots be buried in the ground, otherwise they will simply rot.

Bulbs with sprouts are planted in shallow planting holes in the spring, leaving the sprouts above the surface of the ground. In the fall, after flowering, it is advisable to transplant the lilies to the required depth so that they do not freeze in winter.

Advice! After planting tall and large-flowered varieties or lilies with sprouts, it is advisable to install small supports so that the stems do not subsequently break under the weight of the flowers.

The author of the video will tell you and show you how to plant lilies with sprouts

Rules for proper care of lilies

If someone tells you that lilies are unpretentious and require minimal care, do not believe them.In order for these inimitable and delightful flowers to decorate your garden plot, it is necessary to create suitable conditions for the plants in which they will feel comfortable.

After planting, lilies need care so that the bulbs take root and begin to grow. For best results, it is necessary to carry out the following work in a timely manner:

  • moderate watering;
  • loosening and weeding;
  • feeding;
  • pruning after flowering.

Let's consider all the stages of caring for garden lilies after planting in more detail.

Secrets of proper watering

The first and main stage of caring for a lily after planting is moderate and timely watering. It is necessary to water the flowers as the soil dries out. Under no circumstances should you overwater the plants, otherwise the bulbs will begin to rot and may die. Overmoistening can also cause the occurrence and spread of fungal diseases.

It is necessary to water lilies at the root; it is not advisable to irrigate sprouts and shoots. Watering can be combined with the application of fertilizers in liquid or dry form.

If the summer turns out to be dry, lilies need to be watered more often and more abundantly, as the plants weaken with a lack of moisture. Also, moisture deficiency affects the appearance of the plant, and the abundance of flowering decreases. The flowers become small, faded and inconspicuous.

Advice! Experienced gardeners advise removing all buds from lilies in the first year after planting, since flowering takes a lot of energy from the plant. Weakened flowers may not survive severe winter frosts.

After flowering, the plants no longer need abundant moisture, so the rate and regularity of watering is halved.

Weeding and loosening flower beds

Loosening the soil and regular weeding is the key to active growth and abundant flowering of lilies.You need to loosen the soil after each watering or precipitation.

Try not to loosen the soil too deeply, so as not to damage the bulbs and not touch the children that form over time. It is advisable to abandon loosening 1.5-2 months after planting so as not to damage the stem bulbs.

Try to keep an eye on the flower garden so that the lilies are not overgrown with weeds. Weed your flowers as often as possible. If you wish, you can mulch your flower beds to make your work easier and protect your plants.

Timely application of fertilizers

Feeding lilies in the spring is an important stage in caring for lilies in the country or in the garden. Fertilizers must be applied in accordance with the recommendations of experienced gardeners.

A lack of nutrients will invariably affect flowering. After all, plants belonging to the lily group grow in one place without transplanting for up to 4-5 years. Therefore, your task is to feed the flowers competently and regularly, restoring the balance of minerals and nutrients. You can learn more about how, when and what to feed lilies from the article.

Important! Not all bulbous flowers can be planted next to lilies. Tulips and gladioli are undesirable neighbors, but imperial hazel grouse or daffodils will scare away mice that like to eat the bulbs.

Caring for lilies after flowering

Luxuriously blooming lilies are an unforgettable and delightful sight. Unfortunately, this beauty is short-lived. The buds gradually lose their petals, fade, and in place of graceful and magnificent flowers there remains an inconspicuous stem with gradually fading leaves.

Many flower growers make the mistake of pruning lilies immediately after flowering, wanting to give the flower beds a well-groomed appearance, and later lament that the bulbs become weak, are affected by fungal diseases, and often freeze out. In this case, the rules for pruning lilies after flowering were grossly violated.

Do I need to prune lilies after flowering and how to do it correctly? Immediately after the petals fall off, the inflorescences must be removed. There is no need to cut off the stems immediately. The plant receives nutrients through the foliage, and until the leaves begin to turn yellow, the stems cannot be cut. As the foliage turns yellow, the flower stalks are gradually shortened.

Pruning lilies after flowering is an essential step in flower care. While the leaves are green, they nourish the bulb, strengthening it and delivering the necessary elements to it. When pruning, the cuts are made oblique so that rainwater does not accumulate, but flows down the stem. Straight cuts can lead to rotting of flower stalks. At a height of 15-20 cm, the stems are left until autumn.

Plants are not pruned only when it is necessary to collect seeds from individual specimens. In this case, the inflorescences are left alone until the seed pods ripen.

Important! You can cut stems or flowers for cutting only with a clean and sharp tool.

Some secrets of growing lilies

In order to protect the lower part of the plant and bulbs from overheating, medium-sized or low-growing flowers or decorative ground cover plants can be planted next to the lilies.

Goes well with lily hosts, bells, and marigolds. The latter protect flowers from many insect pests and diseases. You can also plant annual phlox next to lilies.Bright, varied colorful flowers replace each other, decorating flower beds over a long period.

You can also plant several varieties of lilies nearby. When planting, it is important to take into account the variety, height of the plant and the timing of its flowering. You can plan and plant flowers in such a way that they will bloom one after another, decorating your garden plot for a long time.

How to beautifully plant lilies on a plot, photo

As you can see in the photo below, you can plant lilies on your site next to a wide variety of flowering and ornamental plants. The main thing is to follow the following recommendations:

  • When planting lilies, choose your neighbors wisely, taking into account the height of the variety and the timing of flowering;
  • Do not plant moisture-loving plants next to flowers;
  • Keep in mind that lilies do not bloom for long, which means that the closest neighbors should be long-flowering, ground cover or evergreen plants;
  • plants and flowers should not fight each other for light and nutrients.
Interesting! In ancient Egypt, fragrant oils were made from lily flowers, which only crowned persons had the right to use.

The author of the video will share his secrets of planting bulbs with you.

Conclusion

Proper care of lilies after planting in open ground is the key to abundant and luxurious flowering. Even a beginner can grow this queen of flowers if he follows the advice and recommendations of experienced gardeners.

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