Use and Care Manual

How to Grow Lily Bulbs
(late season planting tips will be underlined)
1. Choose an appropriate location in your garden to plant lilies. The ideal location will
offer the lilies sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon. The soil should drain well
and dry quickly after rain.
2. Purchase the bulbs in late fall or early spring, which is the best time for planting.
The bulbs will have an opportunity to acclimate in the soil before beginning to bloom.
3. Dig a hole with your garden shovel for each bulb. Each hole should be approximately
4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 cm) deep and spaced a minimum of 6 inches (15.2 cm) apart
from one another. This distance allows for ample growing room.
4. Remove any rocks or hard clumps from the walls or the bottom of the holes you dug
for planting. These obstacles will make growing the lilies more difficult. Take your
shovel and loosen the dirt in the bottom of each hole, as this will make it easier for the
bulbs to take root.
5. Place a small amount of fertilizer at the bottom of the hole. The amount you add
should just cover the base of the hole. Place the lily bulbs in with the pointed end of the
bulbs facing up. Cover the bulbs with the unearthed soil, and loosely pat it down by hand
to make sure the bulbs are covered.
6. Cover the lily bed with a layer of mulch. Do this if you are planting the bulbs in the fall
to add another layer of protection from the cold winter months.
7. Fertilize the lily bed. Once the sprouts first become visible, add more fertilizer to give
the lilies another boost of nutrients.
8. Water sparingly, only when the soil is dry to the touch. Too much water will weaken
the shoots and attract predators such as garden slugs or other pests ready to prey on your
lilies.
9. Finished.