How to Replant Easter Lilies in the Garden

Americans spend more than 40 million dollars a year to purchase over 8 million Easter lilies, yet most of these hit to compost pile within weeks-simply because they are unaware that you can replant these hardy bulbs in the garden for summer blooms. Although northern gardeners face the challenge of over wintering these beauties, many find success if they are mulched heavily in the fall.

Remove all faded blooms from you Easter lily and place it on a sunny windowsill. Water only when the plant has dried. As foliage matures, it may yellow and die back naturally in the home-but don't let this discourage you. Provide enough water to prevent the bulbs from shriveling until planting time.

Prepare a bed for your Easter lily in an area that receives full sun for at least 6 hours a day. Till the soil to a depth of eight to 10 inches and remove rocks, roots and other debris from the soil. Add a two to three inch layer of compost or well-rotted manure and work it into the soil. Lilies prefer rich, well-drained soil.

Plant the lily plant in the garden once all danger of frost has passed. Position the bulb a few inches deeper than it was planted in the pot and cover with soil. The old top will whither and die (if it hasn't already)-but don't despair. Your lily really isn't dead. New shoots will soon appear.

Water thoroughly to saturate the soil to the depth of the bulb. Keep soil moist-but not soggy-until new growth appears.

Mulch around the base of the lily to conserve moisture and keep the soil cool. Grass clippings, leaf mold or other organic mulch work well. Lilies are notorious for their preference for keeping their feet in the shade and their heads in the sun.

Apply water-soluble fertilizer designed for flowering plants once or twice a month. This provides the nutrients your lilies need to rebloom.

Water deeply to saturate the soil to the root level when the soil dries to the touch. Deep watering once a week is preferred to frequent shallow watering. Shallow watering encourages roots to form near the surface of the soil and may compromise the support system of the plant.

Easter lilies may rebloom in midsummer to fall the first year. If your lily fails to bloom, it will bloom the next season.

Cut foliage back to the ground level once it is killed by a hard frost in the fall. Cover with three to four inches of mulch, such as straw, evergreen boughs or leaf mold. This protects the bulb from the damage caused by cold weather and prevents damage from heaving as the soil freezes and thaws.

Remove the mulch in the spring as soon as new growth appears and resume normal care.

Sources:

University of Illinois Extension; Caring for Your Easter Lily; February 2008

Alabama Cooperative Extension Services; Proper Care and Nurture of the Easter Lily; Jerry A. Chenault