How to Plant Lilly Gardens
- 1). Spread 2 inches of compost over a garden bed that receives at least six hours of sunlight a day. Fertilize the bed with a bulb fertilizer or a slow-release 5-10-10 analysis fertilizer at the rate recommended on the package. Work the compost and fertilizer into the top 6 to 8 inches of soil with a hoe.
- 2). Plant dwarf lily bulbs 2 to 4 inches deep with the flat end of the bulb on the bottom. Plant regular lily bulbs 6 to 8 inches deep. Measure the depth from the top of the bulb to the soil surface.
- 3). Sow bulbs in clusters of three to five bulbs, spacing the bulbs 4 to 6 inches apart in each cluster. Space the clusters 8 inches apart for dwarf types, and 12 inches apart for regular lilies. Plant the same variety of lily in each cluster, but intersperse clusters of different types of lilies with various blooming periods to extend flowering throughout summer.
- 4). Water the lily garden thoroughly after planting. Irrigate until the top 6 to 8 inches of soil feels moist to the touch. Water deeply in this manner once a week, except for when the ground is frozen.
- 5). Cover the bed with a 4- to 6-inch layer of straw mulch if you are planting the bulbs in fall. Straw reserves soil moisture and helps protect the bulbs during winter cold. Use a 2-inch layer of bark mulch in spring beds to preserve the soil moisture and prevent weed growth.
