How to Plant Lily Bulbs
Lilies are a beautiful flower that grows in an array of sizes and colors. When planting your lily bulbs the first things to keep in mind is drainage. It is important that the soil in which you intend to plant your bulbs has good drainage or else water will just sit and collect. The best conditions for your lily bulbs are full sun, a well draining area and space for the roots and plants to grow.
Tip: An easy and efficient way of proving good drainage for your bulbs is to plant on an incline. If you do this be sure to add mulch around the base of the stem to keep the soil in place. A ground cover is another option for preventing the soil from moving away due to the incline.
If you are planting your lily bulbs in a pot, make sure to plant them at least 4 inches away from one another. Also, planting them in a very large pot helps provide space for their roots to grow. Smaller spaces and pots dry out the soil and are just not as secure in general. To both prevent your plants from falling over and to provide sufficient drainage, fill the bottom of the pot or container with rocks.
If you are planning to plant your lily bulbs in the soil directly, make sure to plant them at an appropriate depth. The hole should be reasonably large and allow the roots to spread out easily. When planting in groups, the bulbs should be at least a foot away from each other and at least 18 inches apart if they are large bulbs. When working the soil back in around the bulbs, it is important not to leave any space for air pockets. Water the bulbs as soon as they have been planted and covered in compost.
Tip: After planting and adding compost, cover the ground with gravel to inhibit snails and slugs from getting to the plant.
