Lilies are very beautiful both in bouquet and in the garden. Every amateur grower in the front garden grows at least a few of these beautiful plants. Having bought the bulbs of the species they like, inexperienced gardeners turn to their neighbors for advice. Let's try to tell you about the basic rules for planting and caring for lilies.
Lilies can be planted both in spring and summer. When buying lily bulbs in the spring, be sure to look to see if they have sprouts. The autumn planting of lilies can be started as early as August, and must be completed before the soil freezes.
Lilies love fertile soil. In sunny areas, they grow better and their flowers are brighter.
It is necessary to plant lilies in holes 10-15 cm deep. Having laid the bulb in the ground with the "bottom" down, lightly sprinkle with earth and water. When the water is absorbed, cover the hole with earth.
There is one subtlety: if you want the bulb to multiply faster, put it on the "barrel". Lilies reproduce as "babies". After a few years, the planted bulb will grow overgrown with small bulbs. By replanting them, you will receive new bushes of lilies.
In hot summer, lilies must be watered at the root. It is better to mulch the soil under the plant or loosen it carefully periodically. Lilies need feeding. In the spring, it is good to fertilize lilies with nitrogen fertilizers. For prophylaxis, at the first appearance of sprouts, the soil can be watered with Bordeaux mixture.
Lilies are very fond of wood ash, so it can be applied several times over the summer. After the buds appear, fertilizing with ammonium nitrate will not interfere. Top dressing should be stopped in July by adding double superphosphate to the soil under the plant (dilute 1 tablespoon in a bucket of water).
For the winter, it is advisable to cover lilies with coniferous spruce branches, stems of dry plants, foliage. This shelter must be removed in early spring.
