New to Lilies

...heck, after 50 years of not being able to seriously work on one, I'm *new* to gardening! ;-)

Ok, here's my question, my DH came home with some gorgeous potted lilies for me to put in my flower garden. I planted them, they bloomed beautifully, and now they're fading and the foliage is turning yellow as is normal (I think!) I'd like to fill their spot in the bed so I don't have a couple of huge holes for the summer.

Can some of DG's members give me a few hints as to how/what to plant around or on top of the bulbs? I've seen a few article about "layering" bulbs...is it a good idea to do with lilies?

Thanks in advance...julie

I am doing lilies for the first time this year and expect to have the same problem. They will bloom later in the year for you next year as they will have to wait till it gets warmer to grow. I would look up your particular lily and find out when its normal bloom time is and then find other perennials that will bloom slightly later to plant close that will hide the declining foliage. You will have to watch the size also.

I planted several different lily bulbs this spring and something is biting off the tops, buds and all, after they are above the ground. Not sure what it is but think it might be a rabbit or a squirrel. Anyone have that problem?

LimeyLisa Kay

I have not had good luck layering bulbs, but you can't go by that.

My best solution is to plant something around the lily that will fill in. Maybe daisies or mums . . . something 'mounding'.

Cheri'

julie, i would also plant around them. lilies like there feet shaded. they also need the room to grow and or allow the bulbettes to grow.

lisa, i think deer like them. not sure about rabbits, but squirrels should not be your problem. i had some sort of worm like bug in the top of a coupe of mine. got them though before they ate the whole thing.
debi z

Thanks, everyone...I really appreciate you taking part in my thread. I've been so busy helping my DH siding the garage I haven't been spending much time on the web.

Debi...*I* can vouch for rabbits and lilies. ARRRGH!!! I've lost the tips of 4 or 5 of my newest lily plants and I'm really ticked. "Bunnies" are cute...but they LOVE their "greens"...no! They love MY greens! ;-)

Thanks again for your help.

Well, I read a post that says garlic planted in garden helps deter the rabbits so I am going out to get some of that and plant it. I love garlic anyway! Can't be deer I live in the city and haven't ever seen any this far inside the city limits. Rabbits must be the culprit.

LimeyLisa Kay

I kind of like the foliage and stems of Lilies after bloom. Don't get me wrong, the flower IS the best part. I plant around them and use the lilies leaves as a back drop.

Garlic, uh? I would try that. Thanks.

Hiding foliage is always a problem. With a new bed, I've planted Bearded Iris in the back, then Oriental lillies next even though they will be taller... but bloom later. In front of those, I plan to plant the perennial foxglove I started this year, plus some shorter perennials that bloom later than the lillies.

I like to just stick a few of my potted arrangments into various 'blank' spots in the gardenas needed....helps fill in and add interest to the area. I can simply remove the container before the origonal plants start to grow again.

Darius...I like your combination of plants. *And* they would work perfectly in my border.

rikerbear! What a GREAT idea.

I'll probably be using the potted arrangement for this year and during the summer I'll be planning a bit for the fall planting. I'll use some of my new plants to be delivered in Sept to get the look I 'think' I'm after. Thank you both for posting.

Your welcome :-)