Hi Lily experts. Hope you are having a great spring (or whatever season it is where you live).
Anyway, I need some expert advice. 4 years ago I planted a bunch of lilies in a bed along my back fence. In four years I think I have been able to actually enjoy only a dozen or so blooms. My furbabies keep running through the bed and breaking everything. I've tried training them not to, but have now given up and am wanting to move the bulbs.
I have a bed ready for them in the front, but wanted some advice on how best to dig them up. Should I dig way under and pry them up to remove the bulbs or should I cut around each cluster and move the whole bit, dirt and all? They all have stems above ground 8-20 inches or so (except the ones that have already been broken) Should I cut the stems back on the unbroken ones? Those are asiatic/ trumpets, etc...
I also have two clumps of surprise lilies (the ones that have lots of leaves now, but will die back and put up bloom stalks in fall) Most of them have fairly crushed leaves. Dig up the clumps? Cut back the unbroken leaves once transplanted?
Please offer me some advice before I tackle this job. It's too hot today, but probably tomorrow I'll get to it.
Thanks,
mich
How do I best move established lilies to a different bed?
For lilies: dig way under; try to leave as much dirt as possible with the bulbs. Most feeding is done through roots that grow on the stem with the bottom roots being used to anchor the plant. Don't remove foliage from broken stems. I have even made splints for broken stems and they recovered. They will need the foliage to feed the bulb for next year even if they may not bloom this year. Don't know much about surprise lilies but I don't think I would remove any foliage even if it may not look very nice.
Okay, thank you, I didn't know that about stem roots.
Surprise lilies need to be done early spring or late fall with the peonies. I think if you move them now they may not bloom. but they are very hardy not much really affects them. I usually move my other orientals, asiatic and ot's in the fall I just hate missing their blooms they would be fine to move if not much yet ( mine are only a couple of inches up here ) but if disturbed you may give up bloom. The nice thing about moving them is all the little bulblets you get.
Kim
I usually move in the fall but often in the spring too. The secret seems to be to dig with as much soil as possible so the lilies don't even know they have been moved.
Inanda
As another tactic - you can buy the heavy green garden stakes that are about 5 feet tall at your local Home Depot or garden center and a pack of velcro ties and stake your lilies. Also put broken pieces of dead tree branches sticking up about 12" around anything recently planted or delicate. I find the dogs will detour around this simple barrier, if they have other areas they can go.
Moving the lilies to a more secure place is the best idea but I would want to do it in the fall.
Also I have had luck in putting pine cones in a bed where I don't want the dogs running. A LOT of pine cones! The kind with sharp edges.