Lilies are beautiful perennials that will bloom year after year in your garden. They grow from bulbs that you can dig up to split or just move to a new part of your garden. Unlike a lot of other bulbs, however, lilies never go completely dormant, so lily transplanting can be a little tricky. Keep reading to learn about moving lily plants and how to divide and transplant lilies.
When to Transplant Lilies
The best time for transplanting lilies is in the autumn, when the leaves have withered and turned brown. If you’re planning on treating your lilies as annuals, never cut the full stem when you pick the flowers – only cut the top third of the leaves at most.
The bulb uses the leaves for the rest of the summer to collect and store energy. If you take too many leaves, the bulb will be small and weak. Once the leaves are all brown, dig carefully around the plant with a shovel.
Lift the cluster of bulbs and roots and gently brush the soil from them. You can use a light stream of water if you want. Cut the stem off and pull the bulbs apart from each other.
How to Divide and Transplant Lilies
When transplanting lilies, the best thing to do is to plant them directly in the ground again. The bulbs don’t really go dormant, and it’s not easy to keep them fresh through the winter.
It may be a good idea to dig your holes ahead of time, so you don’t run out of time or energy before they’re safely planted.
Dig your holes deep enough that the bulbs will have a few inches of soil on top of them. Choose a spot that’s well drained – lilies don’t like soggy soil.
That’s it! Transplanting lilies is a good way to enjoy more of these plants in other areas of your garden.