How And When To Transplant Lilies, According To Experts

How And When To Transplant Lilies, According To Experts

We are often asked when to transplant lilies. Lilies are pretty flowers in the garden that grow from bulbs but, unlike other bulbs, they don’t go completely dormant in winter. This makes dividing and transplanting lilies a little different from other plants.

We suggest you aim to divide lilies every three to five years for the best results.

When to Transplant Lilies

The best time to transplant lilies is in the fall when they start to go partially dormant. Wait until the foliage has yellowed and died down. This gives the plants plenty of time to store energy in the bulbs, which will lead to bigger, better flowers next year. Do not wait until the first frost.

Divide and transplant lilies every three to five years. Look for signs that your lilies could benefit from dividing: spindly new growth, narrower flower buds, and shorter stems than usual. Check for these signs in spring, and if you see them, plan to divide in the fall.

How to Transplant a Lily

Because lily bulbs do not go through a complete dormant phase, they should be replanted right away after division. Plan to dig up, divide, and transplant lilies all in one day. Have the new locations for the divided bulbs ready to go for planting so there is no delay.

When you’re ready to divide and move lilies, start by cutting the foliage back a little to make them easier to work with. Dig down at least 12 inches (30 cm) deep and several inches around each lily plant to ensure you don’t damage any bulbs with your shovel or spade. Once you have the bulbs out of the soil, you can cut the leaves down right to the top of the bulb.

Gently pull up the bulbs and divide them. When dividing lilies, you’ll see older, larger bulbs and newer, smaller bulblets. Gently separate the bulbs and bulblets for replanting. Plant the larger bulbs to a depth of about five to six inches (13 to 15 cm). Plant the smaller bulblets to a depth of just two to three inches (5 to 7 cm).

Place bulbs in clumps of three or four and space the clumps 8 to 12 inches apart (20 to 30 cm). Add a layer of mulch over the newly planted bulbs to insulate them for winter. You can pull back some of this mulch in spring as the bulbs begin to push through new growth.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I Transplant Lilies in Summer?

While many gardeners agree that fall is the best time to divide and transplant lily bulbs, it is possible to move them in summer. One advantage of this is that you can see the flowers and have a better idea of where to move each lily, especially if you have different types and colors. They are also at maximum size at this time of year, so it’s easier to judge where to dig down to avoid damaging the bulbs.

The only time of year when you should definitely not dig up and move lilies is spring. It’s too easy to damage the new growth, which can destroy any hope it will bloom that year.

Do Lily Bulbs Multiply?

Yes, lily bulbs multiply underground as they naturalize. As a result, groups of lilies can become overcrowded and need to be divided for optimal health and growth. Look for small bulblets growing from older plants as you lift and divide them. This is new growth that will lead to new flowers after a year or two.