Lilies aren’t just native to Turkey; they also hail from the rugged Caucasus mountains. That harsh climate made them incredibly hardy, which is why you can find them growing all across the Northern Hemisphere today. However, if you want yours to thrive year after year, a little pre-winter cleanup is essential.
Keep Your Tools Clean
Before we dive into the “how-to,” let’s talk shop: always use clean, sharp knives or shears when working with your lilies. This isn’t just a rule for fall maintenance; it applies when you’re harvesting cut flowers for a bouquet, too. Dirty tools are the fastest way to spread diseases from one plant to another.
Don’t Rush the Cut
Timing is everything when it comes to pruning. You’ll want to wait until the stems and leaves have turned completely yellow or brown before reaching for your shears. There’s a good reason for the wait: the plant is busy pulling energy out of the foliage and storing it in the bulb for the winter. If you cut too early, you’re essentially “starving” next year’s blooms.
Cut Them All the Way Down
When you’re ready to prune, cut the stems right down to the soil line, removing all the foliage. You want to clear away any dried-out bits sitting on the surface, too. In fact, if the plant is fully withered, you can often just give the stalks a firm tug and pull them right out of the ground instead of cutting.
Mulch the Root Zone
To help your lily bulbs recharge and stay safe from deep freezes, it’s a great idea to give them a little extra insulation. Covering the root zone with a protective layer works wonders. You can use:
- Evergreen boughs
- Dried leaves
- Bark mulch
Just remember to rake this layer away in early spring so your lilies have a clear path to poke through the soil and start growing again!
