Lily Culture

• First and foremost, lilies need good drainage.
• Plant lilies in the fall; spring planting possible, but a second choice.
• Site the bulb in a sunny area or dappled shade for lighter colors
• Lilies like a rich soil, high in humus or compost.
• Planting depth should be three times the height of the bulb.
• Mulch to keep the roots cool.
• Do not plant where lilies will need to compete with tree roots.
• Water regularly with weeper hose, rather than overhead sprinkler; feed with a balanced fertilizer when shoots appear in spring and again when in bloom; may side dress with compost to enrich soil.
• Stake heavy or tall stems, careful not to put the stake through the bulb.
• Label your lilies with a metal marker and garden permanent marker pen.
• Deadhead after bloom, either individual flowers or entire inflorescence. Leave the stem and all the leaves.
• Clean up in the fall. After stem turns yellow or brown, cut it at ground level. Check that your metal marker is still readable.
• Make a map of where lilies are planted in case markers get lost or unreadable.

Growing Lilies in Containers

• For best results, grow lilies in larger containers, 10"-16"
• Research sources for shorter varieties that are more suitable for containers.
• Place the container in a sunny area, at least 4-6 hours of sun preferable.
• Fill container with good, rich garden soil.
• To deter squirrels from digging up bulbs, place plastic netting on top of the soil in the container and secure with staples until shoots emerge in the spring.
• Follow the rest of the guidelines for Lily Culture.
• Lilies can be grown in one part of a container and after bloom, annuals added to it.
• Don't forget to label!

Companion Planting

When deciding what to plant with lilies, look for low-growing, shallow rooted plants. There are a wide range of bulbs, annuals, perennials and shrubs that fit that description. Lilies do not like to compete with heavily rooted plants such as trees, but appreciate some shade around their roots from shallow rooted plants. Most annuals have shallow roots; perennials such as peonies, lower-growing iris and columbines are good choices. Plan on spring bulbs such as snowdrops, crocus, grape hyacinths, scilla, anemones and daffodils for a succession of blooms in your garden. In the fall, a grouping of chrysanthemums or asters will hide the lily stems as they ripen.

When selecting companion plants, be mindful of a variety of texture, color and form. If you grow bright colored lilies — reds, yellows, oranges — choose blue or purple colored companions for a contrast. Plants with grey foliage — Artemesia, Lamb's Ear, Dusty Miller — are also possibilities. Brown-leafed or blue/blue flowered shrubs are good choices; for example, Caryopteris, Hibiscus Syriacus.