The most famous flower growers and ordinary amateurs have created amazing varieties for planting and growing lilies in open ground. These flowers have delighted us with their beauty for several hundred years. They look so aristocratic, proud and gentle that, not without reason, they are a symbol of kings and an attribute of heaven and divinity.
At the same time, remember that species varieties are difficult to cultivate, and some of them are simply impossible for non-professionals.
But varietal, or as they are also called, hybrid lilies, are successfully grown even by beginning flower growers at their dachas, in the flower garden in the garden near the house.
True, for long and persistent growth and flowering, you need to know the basics of agricultural technology, the secrets of which we will now tell you. Taking into account all preferences garden plant(Lílium), you can get beautiful flower beds and successfully propagate the flower, both for yourself and for sale.
Growing lilies in open ground
These flowers are quite demanding. Therefore, if you want to grow them in your dacha flower garden, in the garden at home, then be patient and knowledgeable.
But in general, even beginners grow beautifully flowering plants. Tested for myself. At the same time, I repeat, quality is very important planting material.
I bought lilies at a local nursery, where the plants are acclimatized and ideally suited to the planting site (admin note).
How to choose bulbs
Don't chase flashy bags and marketing promises. It is better to visit the brand store of a regional nursery, an exhibition and a breeders' fair.
It is better not to take small bulbs up to 7 cm when you want to see quick flowering. If you buy in the spring (April May) with roots, then the roots must be elastic and at least 5 cm long. And after forcing, the material is not considered to be of high quality; such bulbs are only taken if the variety is really needed.
If you buy lilies out of season, then store them correctly. Place moss, peat or wet sawdust in a bag, wrap it and place it on the side shelf of the refrigerator. Punch a hole in the bag for ventilation.
Before planting, if the scales are dry, wrap them in a clean cloth soaked in a weak (pink) solution of potassium permanganate for a couple of hours.
Choosing a place to grow
Flowers do not tolerate drafts and waterlogged soil, but they require fresh air and good watering.
Special mention must be made for the lighting.
Some types of flowers love well-lit places or slight partial shade. Others prefer very sunny places and seem to gain strength in the flower from the sun. And then there are those who enjoy dark places and indirect sunlight.
Growing lilies in the garden better in groups by variety, which will make the flower bed even more beautiful and will allow for proper, individual care. Positive impressions and delight are guaranteed for both you and your guests and neighbors.
Before planting lilies, it is necessary to carefully prepare the soil and carefully select the location.
Sandy, dry and clayey soil is unsuitable for them. Flowers prefer slightly acidic soil, but this can also vary depending on the variety.
If you are planting lilies from a bulb in the garden, you will need very well-drained soil. Since these plants do not tolerate standing water for a long time, excess moisture in the root system quickly begins to rot and decompose.
Raise the flower bed, make an additional mound, arrange and make a slight slope from the edge of the flower bed so that during the rainy season and after watering excess water could have left.
In addition, you should not choose a place near trees or bushes, because often the soil near them is too dry.
It is better to fertilize the area with plant humus and humus (it is very good to use a peat mixture).
Check to see if there are any burrows of moles or mice in the area of the proposed flower garden.
It is important that young growing bulbs are isolated from animal movement areas to prevent possible damage before they have a chance to develop to their full size.
Planting lilies in spring and autumn in the ground
It is necessary to make drainage - dig up the soil to a depth of 30 cm. The soil should be loose, the kind that will be used to cover the hole.
The planting depth of lily bulbs is approximately 15 - 17 cm (the height of 3 bulb heads). The distance between them is from 15 cm for short ones, and for medium and large ones that bloom profusely from 22 to 35 centimeters
You can put old, well-rotted manure and sand into the hole, then the hole is spilled with water (can be warm), when the water is completely gone, the bulbs sprinkled with ash from charcoal are placed and covered with peat and loose (sifted mixture of fertile soil).
When planted deep, like ours, the flower will bloom later, but will produce more children. Follow the recommendations for the variety.
Then moisten the planting site (lightly water it with a watering can), but under no circumstances fill it with water.
The distance between them is made from 15 cm for short ones, and for medium and large ones that bloom profusely from 20 to 35 centimeters.
When is the best time to plant lilies?
Planting in the spring (in May for central Russia) is the best period for breeding and creating a flower bed with these magnificent flowers. But it all depends on the plant variety.
For example, the best time to transplant the candidum lily is considered to be July - August. And replanting an Asian variety is possible even during its flowering period.
In general, we must remember that transplantation is carried out no more than once every 3-5 years.
Before this, you need to cut the stem of the flower almost to the very soil, then carefully dig it out and rinse it in cool water. Cut the onion into 2 parts and place it for 30 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate (fungicide or karbofos), then immediately plant it in the prepared soil. You should not change the location of the flower bed too often.
Features of autumn planting
If you decide to plant lilies with bulb scales in the fall, then best time for this - September. The latest time for planting planting material is no later than mid-October. Limiting the time of autumn planting is provided to ensure that the bulbs have enough time to take root before the onset of cold weather.
Caring for lilies in the garden
Caring for these magnificent flowers is easier than preparing for planting.
- It is important to water correctly.
Water them in the morning or afternoon (but not in the sun), moderately, especially in summer. While they are in bloom they demand less water than during the period of development of the stem with foliage and bud ovaries.
- Feeding.
Fertilizers in the spring are especially important before the appearance of sprouts, the first shoots and during the period of bud growth.
Use 1 spoon of ammonium nitrate per 1 square meter loosened soil. Also in the spring, lilies are fertilized using “Nitroammofoska”, from diluted old manure. Sprinkle the area around the flowers with ash, or better yet. You will also have feeding and pest control.
In summer, double superphosphate and potassium magnesium are used as fertilizer. Repeat watering with water and ash.
In the fall, feed with a solution of phosphorus fertilizers. For treatment and prevention against pests, use phytosporin.
- Weed and pest control.
You can apply a thin layer of mulch to reduce the growth of weeds and pests that attack the garden, which can treat the bulbs as a treat.
Periodically you need to weed the ground around the plants, but very carefully so as not to damage them.
- How to care for lilies in spring
in the garden comes down to:
It is necessary to clear the soil cover of leaves, grass, and covering material. Then the soil is loosened carefully and fertilized. When the sprouts hatch, water them with organic, nitrogen fertilizers or add nitroamophoska. Then they lightly loosen again and hill up to a small height.
Fertilizing is usually done a couple of times, when shoots have not yet formed. When buds are setting, when watering or simply adding ash in bulk charcoal. Plus, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can be used as fertilizing.
It is important to carry out preventive measures for healthy growth and flowering of plants.
- We have important information, an article with photos about lily diseases and how to deal with pests.
Summer pruning.
- All varieties tolerate cold well, but it is still necessary to prepare them for the winter season.
To do this, insulate the soil with chopped dry leaves and grass with ash. It is good to use sawdust as mulch and cover. You can also cover it with film to prevent the tubers from being flooded with moisture during rains and snow melting.
How to propagate garden lilies
Many people are concerned about the issue of propagating these flowers in the country.
There are quite a few ways:
- dividing the bulbs
- by seed method,
- division of bulb scales,
- stem cuttings,
- and some varieties are even propagated by leaf cuttings.
Seed making is the simplest.
In early spring we sow seeds, both for seedlings at home and under protective film(greenhouse). Then you need to carefully thin out the shoots, this will prevent damage to the roots from accumulated moisture in the dense planting. At the same time add loose soil to the weeding areas and fertilize the remaining flowers.
The shoots can be separated and used for plant propagation. If the lilies are already three years old, then you can easily plant them in August or early September by dividing them.
But most often the bulbous division is used.
After 3 years of growth of the main flower, shoots with newly formed bulbs are separated from it, and planted in scales or whole bulbs in prepared soil.
The flowerbed in which wonderful lily flowers grow is distinguished by its beauty and exoticism. Therefore, be sure to grow them in your country house, making the design of the porch of a private house even more beautiful in your front garden!
Lilies are very delicate and beautiful flowers, which are very popular among amateur gardeners. Planting garden lilies is not difficult: it perennial very unpretentious.
In order for a lily to delight us with its beauty and feel good in the open ground, it is required proper care, and of course follow the rules of propagation and planting.
Lily: characteristics of the species
Lily (Lilium) is a perennial flowering crop that belongs to the Liliaceae family. The stems of the plant are straight and tall (some varieties reach 1.5 m in height), with small glossy leaves. Flowers can be different forms: cup-shaped, funnel-shaped, stellate or bell-shaped. However, they always consist of 6 elongated petals and the same number of stamens.
Scheme: types of lilies by stem structure
Although the word "lily" literally means "completely white", the flowers of modern varieties can have different shade: yellow, orange, red, lilac, lilac, pink. Varieties with combined colors are very popular among summer residents.
The underground part of the plant is single-tiered (less often two-tiered) root system and onion. It is the bulb that is the source of nutrients for the crop, as well as the reproductive organ of the species. About growing other species bulbous plants- hyacinths, tulips.
Wild lily - the predecessor of hybrid varieties
When to plant a lily
As you know, lilies can be planted both in spring and in mid-autumn - it all depends on the wishes of the gardener.
Autumn planting is considered the most favorable. Low temperatures and sufficient moisture will allow the plant to adapt and take root normally - thus reducing the stress level of the crop. That is why it is better to plant lilies in the southern regions of Russia in October.
Preparing to plant lilies in open ground
However, it is worth noting that most varieties of lilies require spring planting - study the characteristics of the variety you have chosen.
Choosing a place to plant lilies
Before planting a crop in open ground, carefully select a place for growing it. The plant develops well in sunny places that are protected from the wind (if you want to plant a lily near the house, observe which side of the house the sun is on most of the day).
Any sunny place in your garden is suitable for planting lilies.
Once the site has been selected, dig up the soil and remove any remaining roots from other plants (especially weeds). Lilies can be planted in the same flower bed with others flowering plants– the culture will not feel bad about this. The main thing is that the “neighbors” were not too high and did not create shadow of a lily. For this reason, the crop should not be planted under trees or shrubs.
Soil preparation
Lily does not tolerate drought well, so the soil in which it is planted must be well-drained. Most lily varieties love fertile soils with high moisture permeability. Although breeders have also developed varieties that can safely tolerate dry and even swampy areas. However, heavy loamy soils and saline soils should be avoided when growing the crop.
The optimal soil for planting lilies should consist of layers of gravel, sand and fertile soil
Whatever the type of soil, you should remember that it is still necessary to fertilize the lily. Peat fertilizers, humus or rotted compost (1 bucket per 1 m2) are suitable for feeding. If sandy impurities predominate in the soil, then a good option for improving the quality of the soil would be phosphorus-potassium fertilizer, which is applied before planting the plant (100 g per 1 m2).
Important! By well fertilizing the soil when planting plants, you will provide them with comfortable conditions for growth and development for the next 2 to 3 years.
According to the type of environment, the soil for lilies should be alkaline or slightly acidic. A too acidic environment is not suitable for the plant, so it is neutralized with wood ash (also ensures proper soil drainage), limestone or chalk (200-300 g per 1 m2).
Planting lilies in open ground
If you decide to plant lilies in the spring, then you should do this when the frosts have already subsided, but the dry period has not yet begun. For each region of the country, the optimal time for planting lily bulbs in the ground will be different.
Prepare lily bulbs for planting as follows:
- sort the bulbs, removing damaged planting material;
- completely remove flower scales from the most viable samples;
- rinse the bulbs in a solution of potassium permanganate or foundation (this will get rid of harmful bacteria).
Lily sprout
The planting depth of the bulb is determined depending on the type of soil:
- in heavy soils small bulbs should be planted to a depth of 5-6 cm, large planting material - at 13-16 cm.
- if the soil is loose, it should be planted 2-4 cm deeper than in the previous example.
Important! It is allowed to plant only high-quality bulbs with an intact root system.
After planting is completed, the plants should be fed with organic and mineral fertilizers. If you planted lilies in the fall, cover the flowerbed with dry leaves and an additional layer of soil. This will allow the planting material to avoid freezing.
Principles of care
Maintenance optimal humidity soil is the first thing you need to keep an eye on. Watering is carried out as the soil dries out (accordingly, in dry periods it is watered more often, and in rainy periods, watering can be omitted altogether). Use the “root watering” technique (the so-called strip watering): surface irrigation can harm lilies. If necessary, fertilizing can be applied along with watering.
If the summer is rainy, then you don’t need to water the lily.
In the first year of life, the plants are quite weak. Therefore, to improve their development, remove all the buds: the lily will spend too much energy on flowering and, having weakened, will not be able to withstand winter frosts. But in the second and third years after planting, the plant will bloom profusely. Usually in the fourth year the flowering intensity decreases - this means that the crop needs feeding. Closer to the fifth year, the flowers are divided and replanted.
Advice! Don't forget to provide support for the lilies: these crops often break under the weight of their own stems.
Reproduction and transplantation of lilies
Lilies are propagated by dividing the bulbs. The procedure is carried out in the 4th-5th year of lily growth: the thickening of the bulbous nests by this time is fraught with the cessation of flowering. The lily bulb is divided and carried out separate landing every part of it. The care required for transplanted bulbs is the same as for plants in their first year of life. Under favorable conditions, divided bulbs will bloom within a year.
Diagram: types of lily propagation
Some lily varieties produce baby bulbs. They are attached just above the base of the main bulb. Such bulbs should be carefully separated and planted for growing. These plants will bloom only 2-3 years after planting.
There is a more complex method of propagating lilies - using scales. Small loose growths are carefully separated from the base of the mother bulb and planted in a special sandy bedding. If the scales were planted in the spring, then by the fall they will form bulbs.
Popular groups of lilies
When choosing lilies for planting in a country house or in the courtyard of a private house, you should pay attention to the following groups of hybrid plants:
Asiatic lily (left) and Candidum lily (right)
- Asiatic hybrid lilies. Unpretentious winter-hardy varieties have cup-shaped flowers of white, pink, orange, yellow, and multi-colored ones.
- Candidum. These varieties are capricious to growing conditions. The flowers are funnel-shaped or tubular in shape, and the color can be snow-white or yellow. Unlike the previous group, the flowers of these varieties have a strong aroma.
American lily (left) and Oriental lily (right)
- American hybrid lilies. The variety is well suited for cultivation in middle lane Russia. They are distinguished by moderate demands on growing conditions. The flowers are turban-shaped with pink or lilac color and bright red specks.
- Oriental hybrid lilies. The varieties are quite resistant to external factors, but are highly susceptible to viral and fungal diseases. Flowers of various shapes and colors. Suitable for breeding in the middle zone and southern regions of Russia.
Each of the four groups of lilies includes many varieties with similar characteristics. You should choose a group based on the planting conditions and climate in your region. The variety is determined solely at the discretion of the gardener.
How to plant lilies: video
Varieties of lilies: photos
Lily is a decoration of many gardens and is very popular among gardeners all over the world. Everyone dreams of growing lily flowers in their garden, planting and caring for which is not difficult and accessible, but requires preliminary preparation.
Selecting the variety and bulbs of lilies
When choosing planting material, you need to make sure that it will match the chosen variety, is healthy, and suitable for growing in your region. In the matter of varietal compliance of lilies, one can only rely on the conscientiousness of the seller, but one can determine the species and quality of the bulbs by their appearance.
The best varieties of lilies for the garden
The genus of lilies is represented by more than 80 wild and cultivated species around the world. Their varietal diversity is even more impressive - about 8,000 varieties and hybrids, each of which is unique in its own way.
Throughout Russia, including in Siberia and the Urals, summer residents practice growing Asian hybrid lilies. These varieties are frost-resistant, grow quickly and do not require care. They bloom very profusely in June - July. A peculiarity of Asians is the lack of scent in flowers. The most famous varieties of this group are Marlene, Top Gunn, Lollipop, Yeti, Flore Pleno, Daira, Sorbet.
Oriental lily hybrids are more capricious when growing. They do not tolerate low temperatures well, which is why they are preferred to be grown in the southern part of Russia and in greenhouses in the Moscow region. They differ fragrant flowers of extraordinary beauty, with a diameter of up to 30 cm. The following varieties are classified as Oriental: Casablanca, Barbados, Cassandra, Mona Lisa, Double Surprise, Magic Star.
The Kudrevataya lily (Martagon) is famous for its unpretentiousness when growing. Martagon hybrids are widespread in the northern regions of our country, especially varieties such as Beyhouse, Markhan, Khaysona, Gay Light. At the base, the leaves of this type of lily are collected in a whorl, and the tall peduncle is strewn with many turban-shaped flowers.
The right variety is the key to easy care
That is why summer residents prefer tubular varieties. They are not affected by diseases and are unpretentious, and long, up to 1.5 m, flower stalks with many large flowers of various colors will become an exquisite decoration for your flowerbed.
Determining the type of lily by bulb
Experienced gardeners They know that each group of lily hybrids has its own requirements for the composition of the soil, the illumination of the site and has its own frost resistance threshold. Thus, growing lilies in open ground of the Asian group and LA hybrids is possible everywhere, but oriental varieties do not tolerate wintering well; slightly alkaline soil is suitable for growing trumpet lilies, and slightly acidic soil is suitable for OT hybrids.
It will help to determine which group the lily belongs to. appearance bulbs:
- White bulbs, sometimes with yellow and pink splashes, are characteristic of the Asian and Longiflorum (LA) groups;
- Large yellow bulbs, less often purple have Oriental and Oriental (OT) lilies;
- Trumpet lily bulbs are purple in color.
Choosing a healthy onion
When purchasing lilies, it is important to correctly determine the quality of planting material, since bulbs infected with fungal diseases will cause a lot of trouble and can infect flowers already growing in your flower beds.
- The bulb should be elastic, juicy, without damage or signs of rotting.
- Planting lilies whose bulbs have dried out and have no sprouts or root growth will not bring the desired result. They need very careful care, and it is unknown when flowering will occur.
- The size of living roots should be at least 5 cm.
- Bulbs with a diameter of less than 3 cm will begin to bloom only two years after planting. The larger the bulb, the more magnificent the color of the lily will be. The optimal bulb diameter is 12-16 cm.
When to buy bulbs
Lilies are planted both in autumn and spring period. When choosing lilies that are planned to be planted in the fall, it is important to consider that they need to be planted as early as possible, leaving enough time before frost for rooting. Lilies, growing and caring for which in this year was correct, they start digging at the end of August. It is advisable to purchase bulbs during this period.
Be careful when buying bulbs!
Look out for sprouting bulbs that go on sale in the fall. Most likely, they were not planted in the ground in the spring, and they missed one life cycle. Once in the ground, they will immediately begin to grow and freeze out at the first sub-zero temperatures on the ground.
Buying lily seedlings
It is possible to plant lilies in summer, especially if we're talking about about Asian hybrids and Candidum. They are sold as seedlings with a clod of soil, often flowering. In this case, choosing a flower is much simpler - all its beauty is visible to the eye, and there is no chance of receiving off-grade planting material.
You should not buy lily seedlings after forcing them!
Often seedlings are sold in June and July after forcing. In this case, the bulbs went through the life cycle in artificial conditions. In open ground they will get sick and will only be able to bloom after a few years. The cost of such planting material is not high, which is a temptation for many novice gardeners.
Preparing soil and bulbs, rules for planting lilies
Right choice site, soil preparation and bulb planting play a decisive role in successful cultivation lilies. If you approach these stages responsibly, lilies will grow well and delight you with flowering in the garden for many years.
Site selection
The choice of a site for cultivation largely depends on the type of lilies and their requirements for certain conditions:
- Asiatic, oriental and trumpet lilies are preferred sunny areas no through winds. Partial shading will not affect the growth and flowering of these lilies. If the light in the garden is not the same throughout the day, it is preferable to plant lilies on the east side so that they receive as much sunlight as possible before lunch.
- Curly lilies (Martagon) grow and bloom well in partial shade, especially when the leaf rosette is completely shaded and the flower stalks are in the sun.
To shade the bulbs during the summer, it is recommended to plant lilies near low-growing perennials (hosta, daylilies, nivaria). In this combination, the blooming lilies will stand out and look bright, and the bulb will remain in the shade, protected from overheating and drying out. On shady areas under trees and dense bushes, lilies stretch out, their stems are thin, and their flowering is sparse and late. Such plants often get sick and the bulbs die.
The best place to plant lilies
Preference for planting lilies should be given to elevated or flat areas. In the lowlands, the bulbs can get wet, be affected by fungal diseases, and in winter there is a high probability of them freezing.
Soil preparation
Lilies feel comfortable on garden or vegetable soil, well drained and without high groundwater. Peat or humus is added to sandy soils, and dense clay soil facilitated by the addition of coarse river sand.
Lilies grow best when planted and cared for in soil with moderate acidity.
- The moderately alkaline soil reaction (pH 7.0-8.0) is favorable for growing Snow White and Curly lilies.
- Asiatic and Oriental lilies grow well in soils with neutral acidity.
- The Tubular Lily also has preferences - its varieties with pink flowers They bloom brighter and more beautifully on slightly acidic soils (pH 6.0-6.5).
How to regulate acidity
To lower the pH level, add lime, chalk, ash or dolomite flour. Heather soil, peat, will help increase acidity. acetic acid or colloidal sulfur.
The soil for lilies is prepared in advance: in the fall - for spring planting, in the summer - for autumn planting. They dig it up to a depth of 35-40 cm, turning over the layers. Before digging, fertilizers are added to the soil per m²:
- 1 bucket of humus, rotted manure or compost. Adding fresh manure is not permissible, since lilies in such soil will rot;
- 1-2 tbsp. spoons of superphosphate, urea, nitroammophoska;
- 1 liter of solution wood ash, except for those areas where it is planned to plant Martagon and Candidum lilies.
Adding this amount of fertilizer to the soil will provide the lilies with the nutrients they need for good growth and abundant flowering.
Preparing bulbs for planting
Pre-planting preparation of lilies is necessary to minimize damage to the bulbs by fungal diseases. Dried bulbs are pre-soaked in water at room temperature for several hours.
Pickle the bulbs for 15-20 minutes in one of the solutions:
- pink solution of potassium permanganate;
- 2 g of karbofos per 1 liter of water;
- 2 g of foundationazole per 1 liter of water;
- special preparation for treating bulbous plants before planting Maxim or Vitaros.
After processing, the bulbs are dried in the shade.
Planting lilies in the ground
Early autumn planting of lilies in open ground is considered the most successful. Planted during this period, they will have time to take root well before frost and are guaranteed to bloom next year. The exceptions are Oriental lilies and OT hybrids. They bloom late; by September the bulbs are not yet ready for planting, and when planted in October they will not have time to take root. Therefore, they are planted in the spring, when the soil warms up well.
The depth of planting the bulbs depends on several factors:
- Bulb size. The larger the bulb, the deeper it needs to be planted. The minimum depth is 10 cm. Lily bulbs should not be buried deeper than 25 cm in the ground either. Baby bulbs are sown in furrows 5-7 cm deep.
- Soil composition. On heavy soils, bulbs should not be deepened too much.
- Variety of lilies. For short trees, the planting depth is about 10 cm, for tall trees - 15-20 cm.
A distance of 20 cm is maintained between the bulbs. Lilies of the Asian group grow quickly, so when planting, a distance of at least 30 cm is maintained between them. Pictures of multi-colored lilies, planted with 5-7 bulbs in one wide hole, look beautiful.
Planting lilies in autumn and spring is carried out in pre-prepared holes, on a “cushion” of 5-7 cm of river sand. The roots are evenly distributed, after which the bulbs are covered with soil and watered abundantly.
Spring planting material can often be found with a crooked sprout. There is nothing terrible about this, but you need to place the onion in the hole so that the top of the sprout is vertically above the ground. The bulb itself will take the desired position as the lily grows.
If to propagate lilies you need to get a large number of children, the bulbs are planted “on the side”. In this position, a nest of bulbs forms faster, and the number of daughter bulbs will increase.
It is advisable to mulch lily plantings, but separate mulch is used for each varietal group:
- Asian, Oriental, LA and OT hybrids are mulched with bottom peat, sawdust, pine needles;
- Plantings of Snow-White, Tubular and Curly varieties are mulched leaf humus, mowed grass, and also add ash.
Features of summer planting
Asian and LA hybrids can be planted in summer. This also applies to Snow White lilies, whose bulbs are dormant in July-August. Lilies are planted in July using the transshipment method.
The bulbs must be dug up with a clod of earth. Prepare a volumetric well (50x50x50 cm) in advance, into which 1 tbsp is added. a spoonful of superphosphate and mix it with the ground. The bottom of the hole is covered with river sand in a layer of 5-7 cm, after which a seedling is placed and sprinkled with earth mixed with humus or rotted manure. The seedling is watered abundantly and, if it is tall, tied to a support. Existing buds and flowers are cut off so that the lily spends all its energy on rooting.
Planting lilies in summer video
Caring for lilies in summer
Growing lilies in the country is not burdensome. Caring for them comes down to regular moistening and loosening of the soil, as well as periodic application of fertilizing.
Watering
The soil under lilies should be moderately moist throughout the growing season. Stagnation of moisture will lead to rotting of the bulbs, while short-term drought is tolerated by lilies without pain. No watering for a long time will lead to wilting of the lower leaves and poor development of the peduncle.
The basic rule for watering lilies
Lilies experience the greatest need for moisture in the spring, during active growth. In summer, they are watered less abundantly, moistening the soil to the depth of the bulbs. Surface watering will not bring any benefit. In this case, the plant will feel thirsty, and a crust will form on the soil surface that does not allow air to pass through well.
It is advisable to water the lilies before lunch at the root, avoiding water getting on the leaves. During flowering, the amount of watering can be reduced. It is enough to shed the soil 25-30 cm deep, once every two weeks.
Loosening the soil
Garden lilies, cared for and planted correctly, require constant access of air to the root system. Loosen the soil very carefully, trying not to damage the additional stem roots located near the surface of the soil. At the same time, weeds are removed.
During heavy rains, sand is washed out of the soil, it becomes clogged and hardens. In this case, pour under the lilies river sand, which during loosening mixes with the soil and makes it lighter.
Mulching the plantings with straw or wood shavings will help make caring for lilies easier in the summer. You can also maintain constant soil moisture and protect the bulbs from overheating by planting low-growing perennials near the lilies.
Top dressing in summer
If you have an automatic watering system set up, and the lilies are planted in prepared soil, and virtually no care is required for the lilies, the plants need a one-time application of fertilizer in the first year.
Complex fertilizer is added to the flowers during budding, using ammophoska and nitroammophoska in equal quantities, at the rate of 30g/m². Dissolving them in 10 liters of water.
Caring for lilies after flowering
Many gardeners have a question about how to care for lilies after flowering. It is during this period that the plant is most susceptible to disease, since all its strength is spent on the peduncles.
Watering
After flowering, the watering rate is increased, trying to ensure constant soil moisture at a depth of 25-30 cm. From the second half of August, watering is completely stopped, since for successful wintering For bulbs, the soil should be dry.
This applies most of all to Eastern and OT hybrids. After flowering, the soil is thoroughly dried. In September, flower beds should be covered with plastic film so that it remains dry during prolonged autumn rains and thaws in winter period. Remove cover in early spring after the snow melts, during the application of fertilizers.
Feeding
After flowering, lilies need phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. Superphosphate and potassium sulfate are used as top dressing at 10 and 30 g per m², respectively. Dilute them in 10 liters of water and water the lilies with this solution at the root, after preliminary watering with clean water.
Lily bulbs do not have containment, like tulips and other bulbous plants, so add organic fertilizers need to be very careful. Nutrient solutions based on manure or excrement slurry, a weak concentration is prepared: 0.3-0.5 liters per bucket of water. Oversaturation of the soil with organic fertilizers will lead to rotting and subsequent death of the bulb.
For wintering lily bulbs, the same fertilizing as in summer is done in the spring when the snow melts. Fertilizers are applied in dry form onto a crust of melted ice and gradually reach the roots of the bulb, stimulating its awakening, growth and development.
Trimming
Withered flowers are torn off from the peduncle. You cannot delay this, since seed boxes will begin to form on the peduncle, and the plant will spend all its energy on their development.
Caring for lilies after flowering includes trimming the stem. It is carried out only after the leaves and peduncle have completely dried out, since they are a conductor of nutrients to the bulbs. In September, the stem is cut into a stump 10-15 cm long. In late autumn, in October or November, this stump is carefully pulled out so that cold air does not enter the bulb through it.
You need to cut blooming lilies for bouquets correctly!
The peduncle is cut at an acute angle so that the remaining leaves completely or partially cover it. An oblique cut is necessary to allow water to drain during rain. If the cut is made even, a large amount of moisture will flow through it to the bulb, which will cause it to rot.
Protecting lilies from diseases and pests
Lilies can be affected by pests, the most dangerous of which are:
- Onion root mite. Prevention and protection - planting healthy material; dressing the bulbs before planting with karbofos (5 g/1 l of water for 30 minutes); heat treatment of the bulbs in water at 50 ºС for 5 minutes.
- Onion leaf beetle. Control - timely removal of weeds; collecting beetles; treatment with chlorophos (10 g per bucket of water)
- Purple owl. Control - timely removal of weeds and plant debris.
Often lilies, planted and cared for in violation of the rules of agricultural technology, are affected by fungal diseases such as fusarium, rust, and gray rot. In this case, the bulbs begin to rot, and the leaves become stained and wither. If the development of fungi is left to chance, the plant will die.
To combat fungal diseases, the bulbs are treated with fungicides before planting: Fundazol, Topsin, Euporen, Bavistin. The same preparations are sprayed on plants during the growing season if the first signs of disease appear.
Viral diseases lilies are much less common, but effective means There is currently no way to combat them. Infected plants are removed and destroyed off-site.
Caring for lilies after flowering video
Features of caring for lilies in Siberia and the Urals
Today, lilies are successfully grown in Siberia and beyond the Urals. Asian and LA hybrids, Martagon lilies and tubular hybrids are cultivated there. Some varieties of OT hybrids and oriental lilies are able to winter in these regions under cover. Planting and care in the Urals and Siberia differ little from growing lilies in regions with a warm climate.
A special feature of caring for lilies in Siberia and the Urals is covering them for the winter. The flowerbeds are insulated with humus, a layer of at least 7 cm, or fallen leaves - about 20 cm. Oriental lilies and OT hybrids are additionally covered with plastic film or agrofibre so that the soil remains dry in winter. Curly lilies calmly endure winters in Siberia without shelter.
The cover of lilies is removed immediately after the snow melts so that the sprouts do not appear early and freeze out during late frosts. If the lilies have sprouted and the threat of frost has not passed, they are covered with spruce branches or straw.
Transplanting and dividing bulbs
In order for a lily, which does not require special skills to be planted and cared for in open ground, to develop and bloom well, its bulbs must be regularly transplanted to a new location. Otherwise, their stems become sluggish and the flowers become smaller. The frequency of necessary transplantation depends on the type of lilies being grown:
- Curly and American lilies can be grown for up to 15 years without replanting.
- Oriental and Long-flowered lilies, OT and La hybrids are replanted every 3-5 years.
- Asiatic and Trumpet lilies can be replanted every year as they grow vigorously.
Transplantation in autumn
Optimal time for transplanting a lily, the care of which was organized according to all the rules - early autumn. Bulbs are dug up in August or early September, a month and a half after flowering. By this time, they will have accumulated a sufficient amount of nutrients and will quickly take root in a new place. When late autumn planting there is a high probability that the bulbs will not have time to take root and will die in the frozen ground.
The children are separated from the bulbs dug up for transplantation. Often they fall off on their own, but if the daughter bulbs are tightly packed in the nest, they are cut off with a clean knife, making sure to preserve part of the bottom on each bulb. Dividing bulbs is the simplest and most reliable way propagation of lilies, in which all the maternal qualities of the variety are preserved.
Dry scales with signs of rotting are removed from the bulbs, and roots that are too long are cut off. They are treated with antifungal drugs: 1% solution of potassium permanganate, 2% iodine, 1% iron sulfate, foundationazole. Then dry in a shaded, well-ventilated place.
It is advisable to plant lilies in a new place within a week after digging, so that the bulbs do not dry out. Small daughter bulbs are planted separately for growing to a depth of 5-7 cm and after a year or two they are replanted permanent place.
Spring transplant
Oriental and OT hybrids of lilies are replanted in the spring, since they bloom only by the end of August. The bulbs dig them up late autumn, dry and store in a cool place. Place them in plastic bags or plastic containers with ventilation holes and sprinkle them with damp sawdust or moss to protect them from drying out. Bulbs are planted in a permanent location when the threat of return frosts has passed.
Spring replanting is also acceptable when growing other types of lilies, before the appearance or at the very beginning of the development of sprouts. It is important to take into account that when transplanting in spring, lilies develop rapidly and the appearance of early shoots can lead to their death due to late frosts.
Transplanting lilies in summer
Snow White lilies, whose vegetation cycle has its own characteristics, need summer replanting. They enter the resting phase in July-August, and by September they begin to form a new rosette. When replanting, there is no need to cut off the stem, but it is advisable to shorten the long roots to 7-10 cm. After completing the procedure, lilies should be watered generously, stimulating the growth of new roots.
Dividing and planting lilies in July is also possible when growing Asiatic lilies. The dug nests are divided into separate stems with a bulb and immediately planted in a new place. In this case, the buds and existing flowers are cut off.
Bottom line
Even a novice florist can grow lilies in the country, provided that he follows the rules for caring for them. It is important to remember that depending on the species, lilies need different conditions, compliance with which will guarantee abundant and colorful flowering.
Instructions
Find appropriate place in your garden. Plant close to drainage system. It is necessary that the landing site does not accumulate water after rains. If you cannot find such a place, plant lilies on a small hill or on a slope. Also make sure that the chosen location receives as much sunlight as possible. It should be illuminated by direct sunlight for at least half of the daylight hours.
Try to plant the line bulbs as soon as possible. If you are unable to plant lilies immediately after purchasing them, keep them in a dark, cool place, such as a refrigerator at above freezing temperatures. This is necessary to prevent their premature germination. You can plant lilies either at the beginning of winter; in the spring they will already bloom. You can also plant them in early spring, in which case they will begin to bloom towards the end of summer, but they will be in full bloom within a year.
They need to be planted at a depth of about 15 cm. This will protect them from overheating in the sun, provide coolness, and also create conditions for the formation of a strong root system. Lilies can also be planted on the surface of the ground, covering them with a 15-centimeter layer of soil. Do not plant lilies too close to each other; the distance between them should be at least 15 cm. Having dug a hole of the required depth, fill its bottom with phosphorus fertilizer, then plant the bulb and cover it with soil. The planted lily must be watered immediately. If it's cool outside, you can add a layer of mulch on top.
Lilies do not require special care. As soon as you see the first shoots, add some nitrogen fertilizer. But don’t overdo it; the stems of the plant may weaken from excess nutrients. In addition, when high humidity and extreme heat, excess nitrogen can cause the bulb to rot. Add fertilizer again after about a month.
The divinely beautiful flower of the garden lily is credited with many beautiful and interesting legends. The white lily is the personification of purity and innocence. An ancient Greek legend says that White Lily grew from the milk of the mother of the gods, Juno, while according to the legends of the ancient Jews, the lily grew in the Garden of Eden during the temptation of Eve by the devil and remained pure, because no evil dared to touch her innocence.
The yellow lily is also crowned a beautiful legend. There is a beautiful saying that it is under the lily yellow color which grew in the reeds, and the cradle of Moses stopped.
The red lily has its own, no less interesting, history. And although a white lily has always been considered a symbol of royal power, some argue that the lily given by the angel to Clovis was precisely red. There is a legend that it turned red on the night before the Savior’s suffering while he was passing through the Garden of Gethsemane. All the flowers that grew there bowed their heads. And only one lily remained adamant, wanting him to be able to fully enjoy her beauty. And so it actually happened - the Savior stopped his gaze for a moment at this proud flower. And then Lily felt ashamed of herself. She was able to catch the suffering look on herself and compare her pride with the humility of the Savior. The blush spread over all her petals and remained there forever. That is why, to this day, it is impossible to find a red lily with its head raised proudly, and by night it closes all its petals into a bud.
It is not known why exactly the lily flower is so popular among gardeners, but the fact that the lily is considered the most beautiful flower- this is undoubtedly.
Types and varieties of lilies
Currently, there are nearly 80 species of this charming flower, which have given flower growers a large number of hybrids. Lily flowers can be very different:
- Cup-shaped.
- Flat.
- Star-shaped.
- Bell-shaped.
- Turban-shaped.
- Tubular.
- Funnel-shaped.
Despite all the beauty of lilies, the following varieties of lilies are considered the most popular. So, lily - description of varieties.
- Asian variety. Asian varieties of lilies include: tiger, spotted, Dutch, dwarf, monochromatic, bulbous, Fiesta lilies and some hybrids. Their main advantages: resistance to low temperatures, ease of cultivation and clarification, and ease of propagation. They like to grow in slightly acidic and neutral soils and reproduce by seeds or bulbs. The only drawback of the Asian lily variety is the lack of aroma.
- American variety. American varieties include the following lily names: Columbian lily, leopard lily, Paris lily, Uerbanka lily, Humboldt lily. American variety lilies like low acid soil and highly lighted areas. Disadvantage - they do not withstand replanting.
- Martagon. Lilies of the Martagon variety are curly hybrids. They tolerate low temperatures well, are not exposed to viruses, are durable and unpretentious to the soil.
- Long-flowered varieties. These include the Formosan lily and the Zalivsky lily. This variety is mainly grown as an indoor variety, on windowsills. The reason for this is that they do not withstand temperature changes well.
In addition to the above species, those that tolerate frosty winters well and do not require special care during the growing process are also popular among gardeners:
- AA hybrids.
- Long-flowered hybrids.
- Hybrids of trumpet lilies.
- Hybrids of Asiatic and Oriental lilies.
Wanting to grow beautiful lilies in their garden, flower growers are primarily interested in: when is the best time to replant lilies? Let's consider this issue in more detail.
Planting lilies
Spring planting of lilies
The cold months are behind us and spring chores begin suburban areas. It is in the spring that many people plant bulbs, because spring planting creates favorable conditions for the growth of the root system and the survival of the plant in a new place.
But, due to the fact that lilies are stored in cold rooms all winter, when transferred to warm conditions they quickly grow. This means that all varieties have limited period landings. That is, lily bulbs need to be planted in soil with small sprouts.
- If their sprouts have already reached 10-12 cm, they need to be planted sideways, thereby ensuring the horizontal position of the sprouts. During the growth process, their sprouts will gradually straighten and ensure flowering. The advantage of such planting is that more large-sized children are formed in the underground part.
Important! Spring planting lilies are undesirable for the southern regions.
- Autumn planting of lilies, in contrast to spring, has one significant advantage - the plants themselves feel when they can hatch in the spring. But, unfortunately, not all varieties of lilies can be purchased in stores in the fall.
- Transplanting lilies is also practiced in the summer months. Especially if you need to fill empty spaces in the flowerbed after digging up tulips, daffodils or other early flowering plants. Flower growers call this type of planting transshipment, because you need to dig up the plants along with a lump of earth and carefully transfer them to a pre-dug hole. Lilies tolerate transshipment well.
- Experienced gardeners recommend planting and replanting bulbs at the end of August or early September, when the lilies have already bloomed. If you purchased the bulbs in the spring, then planting in open ground is best done in the month of May.
It is important to know! Late-blooming lily varieties should be planted in the spring to ensure proper bulb formation in the fall.
When to plant lilies is up to each of you to decide. The main thing is to adhere to all the recommendations and tips that you can find in our article.
Lily bulbs
To ensure that lilies bloom wildly in your garden, you need to know how to choose the right lily bulbs. The main requirement is to pay attention to the quality of the bulb. Living bulb roots should be firm and free of moldy or rotten scales. Their optimal length is 5 cm.
- When buying bulbs in winter or early spring, you should ensure they are stored properly.
- To do this, place them in a plastic bag with moss or dry peat.
- Make small holes in the bag, then store them in the refrigerator until planting.
- Systematically inspect the planting material. When the bulbs begin to sprout, it is recommended to open the packaging material and allow them to sprout unhindered.
- In this case, it is necessary to provide the planting material optimal temperature– from +2 to +5*С.
Many amateur gardeners are interested in the question: is it possible to bring dry bulbs back to life? It is generally accepted that dry bulbs are not suitable for planting. But it’s still worth trying to revive them. Especially if these are bulbs of your favorite lily variety. To do this, 4-5 hours before planting, wrap the bulbs in damp soft cloth. Immediately before planting, do not forget to treat them with a 10% solution of karbofos.
Soil preparation
- An equally important task is proper preparation soil. To plant lilies, choose the freshest place where other plants have not yet been grown.
- Remember that the roots of the lily bulb go deep into the soil, so you need to dig it to a depth of 50 cm. If the soil is heavy and clayey, it is recommended to add sand when digging. IN sandy soil It’s better to add peat.
- To ensure beautiful flowering, gardeners recommend fertilizing the soil with rotted compost at the rate of 1 bucket per 1 sq.m.
- Due to the fact that the lily is a perennial plant and it usually lives in one place for 3-4 years, it is recommended to apply mineral and organic fertilizers when preparing the soil for planting. This will allow gardeners to ensure that the plants bear good fruit even without additional feeding in the summer months. Otherwise, the plants will need to be fertilized with complex mineral fertilizers at least 2 times during the summer.
It is important to know! Lilies do not tolerate acidic soil. To reduce acidity, it is recommended to add wood ash at the rate of 200 grams per 1 sq.m. or chalk – 200-500 gr. per 1 sq.m.
Planting lilies
When preparing to plant lily bulbs, it is necessary to take into account the fact that plants live in one place for 3-4 years. Therefore, it is recommended to plant them in groups of 3-5 pieces. Remember that frequent replanting will slow down the growth of the plant.
As mentioned above, garden lilies love well-lit areas. But, it is worth taking care to provide them with light shading by planting low annual flowers.
How to properly carry out the process of planting garden lily bulbs - step-by-step instructions
Before introducing you to step by step instructions When planting lily bulbs in open ground, I would like to point out one unwritten rule - the whole process from start to finish must be carried out in good mood. Flowers like to be sung to and treated with respect. In gratitude for this, they delight their owners with beautiful and long-lasting flowering.
So, we charged ourselves with positivity and started the process.
- Dig a hole in the pre-treated soil to a depth of 2 times the height of the bulb.
- The distance between the holes should be at least 15 cm.
- Cover the bottom of the hole with gravel and sprinkle with a small amount of soil.
- Place the lily bulb in an upright position, sprinkle with soil and tamp it down lightly.
- Form a small depression on top, add fertilizer and cover with soil.
- The larger the lily bulb, the deeper it should be planted.
- If there are rodents on the site, then it is worth planting the bulbs in special baskets or metal mesh, which will prevent the rodent from entering the bulb.
- To provide the lilies rapid reproduction, the bulbs should be planted on their side, and not in a vertical position.
- The use of a small amount of wood ash or foundation provides good protection against diseases.
It should be noted that most varieties of lilies do not require insulation. But if in your region there is very low temperature, then you need to cover them for the winter with a layer of foliage, hay or raspberry branches.
Growing lilies by seeds
Another type of growing lilies is by seeds. It is safer and more economical. You should buy planting material in specialized stores or get the seeds yourself after flowering, at the moment when the seed pod acquires a brownish tint.
You can sow seeds in seedling boxes or directly in a garden bed in open ground. In the latter case, it is recommended to select places where bulbous plants have not yet grown.
- Weed the soil to remove weeds and carefully cultivate.
- Form beds up to 1 meter wide.
- Draw sowing lines across the beds, maintaining a distance between them of up to 15 cm.
- The varieties Elegantnaya, Martagon and Concor can be sown in autumn. Slowly germinating varieties are recommended to be sown immediately after harvest.
- Cover the beds with a layer of sand and cover them with hay or a layer of leaves for the winter.
- In summer, fertilize with organic and mineral fertilizers, ensure regular watering and weeding.
Important! To speed up the germination process, gardeners recommend mixing lily seeds with sand immediately after collection. Store such seeds at a temperature of +5 degrees for 3 months, then bury them in the snow for 3 weeks.
Caring for lilies
Caring for lilies is a pleasant process. Moreover, it provides for periodic weeding, watering and loosening. If no fertilizers were added to the soil during planting, then in addition to the above, the plant needs to be fed 2-3 times.
Watering lilies is carried out regularly, both before flowering and during flowering. You need to ensure that the soil is always moderately moist. Lilies need to be watered only at the roots. When water gets on the leaves, the risk of burns and disease increases.
The soil around the bulb should always be loose and free of weeds.
Lily propagation
Lilies are propagated by dividing the bulbs once every 3-4 years. This process will not only increase the number of plants on your summer cottage, but also promotes more beautiful and healthy flowering. If the lily is very thick, the flower will become smaller, it will become dull, sluggish, and its flowering period will be reduced to a minimum. In some cases, a flower may not form at all. After planting, the divided bulbs will bloom in the current season.
Some varieties of lilies can form babies higher than the main bulb on the plant stem. They need to be carefully separated from the stem and planted in the ground. Such bulbs will give flowers to the owner only for 2-3 years after planting.
In addition, lilies can also form stem bulbs, which can form in the axils of the leaves. These bulbs are collected at the end of summer and planted in the ground to a depth of 3-4 cm. To protect them from frost, the planting site must be covered with a layer of raspberry leaves or branches.
The most painstaking method of propagating lilies is by scales. To plant scales, you need to prepare a trench for them, which you need to fill with clean sand. The scales must first be treated with a light solution of potassium permanganate, and then planted in the sand, keeping a distance of 5 cm. If the scales are planted in the spring, then by autumn they will already form small bulbs.
Feeding and pruning lilies after flowering
Lilies need feeding potassium-phosphorus fertilizers and after flowering. In addition, to ensure they have the necessary supply of nutrients and strength throughout the winter, they should be watered regularly.
Many people are interested in when to prune lilies and what needs to be taken into account. It is known that preparing plants for wintering begins with cutting off dried flowers. However, it is not recommended to remove the stems of lilies. The fact is that the stems and leaves are able to supply the plant bulb with nutrients even if they have already withered. Lilies should be pruned towards the end of autumn. But pruning is carried out in such a way that the annual roots, which are located at ground level, are preserved. They are the ones who give the bulb additional nutrition.
conclusions
As you can see, the garden lily, the process of growing and propagating it is not complicated, and anyone can handle it. To consolidate your knowledge that you have already gained from our article, we invite you to watch an instructive video lesson. Experienced florist will also introduce you to some secrets that will help you get early flowering of lilies. Good luck to you!