lily

Lilies require a generous amount of water for their roots in order to reach their fullest potential. A general rule of thumb is to water these plants deeply every 2 days in the hot summer months, and every 3 to 4 days in the colder months. Potted lilies should be watered until there is runoff from the bottom of the pot. In the ground, give the plants a good soaking that is at least 4–6 inches deep. It is also important to ensure the soil never completely dries out, as this will affect the plants’ growth and flowers.

Lilies prefer locations that have full sun or partial shade, with some varieties doing best when they get 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day and others doing best in 4-6 hours of direct sunlight. During the hottest part of the day, partial shade can help protect your lily from the intense sun. In general, most lilies do not appreciate overly hot temperatures, so morning sun is always better than afternoon sun. If your soil is prone to drying out quickly, give your lily full sun in the morning and partial shade in the afternoon.

Lilies should be pruned annually, typically in early spring before new growth begins. For established lilies, remove all dead, damaged, or diseased foliage, as well as any spindly or crossed stems. To promote new growth, you can also remove about 1 third of the leafy mater around the plant, taking care not to cut the stems below the foliage line. If desired, stems can be cut back to soil level for larger clumps. You may also choose to remove or deadhead any spent flowers. These pruning steps will help to keep your lilies looking and performing their best!