Want to move some of my lilies and was wondering if it is too late in season. I am in zone 4 but we hae been having above normal temperatures-days in 70s nights in 50s. If I can move them now do I leave the stalk( most are green yet with bit of yellow, a few yellow or brown). Also appreciate any other tips on doing this. I have an assortment of lilies mostly asiatic but some orientals.
Thanks for any advice!
Can I move my lilies now?
I have moved a bunch of lilies the last 10 days or so. I would chop the stalks down after moving them to their new location. And between stalks, I wipe my pruners down with alcohol, to keep from potentially spreading a disease from one to another. By now, the bulbs have already taken up most of the nutrition that they will get from the leaves. Lots of commercial lily growers are doing the same thing right now ;)
Just be careful when you dig. The stalk is often not centered with where the bulb is. I have learned this the hard way over the years, with a few split bulbs.
Happy digging. Enjoy the weather while it's diggable.
Now isthe best time to move and divide. Having said that, I do move mine at other times, as long as you move them with lots of soil so they are not aware they have been moved.
inanda
Thanks ever so much Magnolialover and inanda!!!
Wishing you great things in all your gardening endeavors!
Here's another question: The site that I want to move my lilies to is rather shallow. It's actually part of a defunct water feature on my property. How deep do the root go? I'm trying to determine if this will work for the casablancas that I would like to move. This is actually a bowl that I think that it is about a foot in its deepest part, sloping to nothing on the edges. I have some red lillies in another similar area that seem to be doing well, but the casablancas need to be relocated.
Apart from other considerations, oriental lilies can grow really huge bulbs and stems, so they need to be able to pull themselves down to where they feel comfortable. Don't think I would want to plant them in a 'bowl'. Lilies prefer a raised or slightly raised bed as a rule.
Think I wouls plant some shallow rooting whatever there, not a lily.
inanda
Isn't the drainage bad there?
The drainage hasn't been a problem since part of the bottom has rusted out. I have some annuals and fountain grass in there now, but I am going to move the fountain grass to another location.
I recieved my order from the Lily Pad this past week, for what they said is the correct planting time for zone 4. Maybe that means it is the right time to divide also. Becky
Yes, it is great planting time and great dividing time, so long as it is not too wet.
OH MY GOSH!
I moved my casablanca today, and I couldn't believe the size of the bulb and its roots. I had no idea that it was so large. Each bulb was at least the size of my closed fist! I lifted a large area around it so hopefully, I picked up all the important parts.
I was also impressed with the thickness of the stems. I never realized that they were so sturdy. Usually, I am just admiring the flowers or waiting for them to bloom, but I tend to completely ignore the stems - not any more. As of today, I appreciate the job that they are doing.
Fortunately, I did decide not to plant them in the bowl of the water feature before I dug them up. Once I actually saw the first one, I knew that there was no way that they were going to fit. I am looking forward to lots of casablancas in its new location this coming spring.
NOW is the time to move all your llilum bulbs. I am moving short ones from the back rows to middle rows. Who would guess that so many 36 inch lilies would only reach 24 inches after 3 summers??? And now I have room for some tall species like L. henryi and martagons.
I dug up a 5 year old clump of Nove Cento to find HUGE fist sized bulbs all crowded together. My local friends are happy to find new homes for them.
