When can I move my lilies?

I have quite of few lilies that the blooms are already spent. I don't like where they are at, the tree that they are planted near is encroaching on them and they lean at a 45 degree angle to get to the sun. When can I move them? I don't want to kill them, but I need to get that
bed cleared out.
Thanks!!

Ideally, lilies should be moved in the Fall after they've died back. If you really need to moved them it can be done anytime if you're very careful.

I guess I'll wait, no sense killing them!! :) Thanks for the help.

Michelle in Michigan

LOL You won't kill them even if you move them now. Seriously, you can move them if you'd like, being careful to not break the stem away from the bulb. Even if you do it's not the end of the world ~ or the bulb. Just be sure to dig wider and deeper than you think you need to as lilies don't always grow straight up.

I dug some early last year too, I did what Moby indicates, dig up the bulb, stem and all to their new location. They did just fine and bloomed very well this year.

Ms Katt How did yours go? I have some doing the same thing, I guess if you didn't kill yours I can move mine now.

Glad someone asked this question! I'm taking a few lilies to someone this weekend and they all still have their very green stems. Should I clip the stems back some, to avoid accidentally breaking them off (some are kind of tall)? Also, do I tell them that they need to plant or pot them ASAP?

I swapped some just recently with a local DG friend and we both left the stems on. Yes, they should be planted or potted right away. This late in the year it wouldn't be a big deal if the stem broke. Wrap the whole mess in newspaper (like florist's flowers) and that should take care of it nicely.

Thanks Moby :-)

Any time, dear. :)

Moby, the Lily Wonder Woman..... If my arm feels better, maybe I'll get some trade lilies dug for the Lily Society Bulb Sale next weekend.