Lilies are perennial ornamental plants that are amazing in shape and have a beautiful color. Caring for these flowers as a whole does not cause any problems: bulbs are easy to plant in the ground, no need to weed and spray from pests. It is necessary from time to time only to water the lawn, loosen the soil, for better growth it is advisable to feed the soil. When the plants bloom, they must be treated with particular care. So, the lilies have faded - what to do, how to prepare the bulbs for wintering?
How to prune lilies after flowering
After flowering, lilies need to be prepared for wintering. Preparation begins with picking dried flowers. This is done to save the consumption of nutrients by the plant. So the plant will not spend nutrients on the ripening of seeds. The stems and leaves that have already wilted do not cease to energize the flower bulb. When to prune faded lilies if you want beautiful heads? This is done only at the end of the season. Pruning is carried out so that the annual roots of the lily are preserved, they are in close proximity to the soil surface. Annual rhizomes nourish the plant, namely the bulb, with additional nutrients.
After the lilies have bloomed, what should I do so that the view of the garden does not deteriorate? It is recommended to use camouflage plants in order to hide dried flowers in the garden. A good camouflage can be high decorative grass or annual flowers that will cover lilies.
Feeding lilies after flowering
If the lilies have bloomed, what to do next, how to fertilize them? During this period, they need to be fed with potassium and phosphorus fertilizers. Gardeners do not recommend the use of mineral salts after the plant has bloomed, because lilies become susceptible to various diseases after repeated feeding, and can also not tolerate wintering, the next year they bloom weakly and are subject to infections.
After the lilies have faded, what to do in terms of fertilizing with organic fertilizers? In fact, fresh compost can infect the soil with a harmful infection, provoke a burn of the bulb or dangerous fungal diseases. After flowering, it is best to feed the plant with special ready-made solutions, which are sold in many agricultural stores. This contributes to the rapid ripening of the bulb, the establishment of flower buds. After flowering, watering should be increased so that the plant has enough water and nutrients for the winter. So it will be stronger.
Lily transplant after flowering
Many gardeners are new to the timing of when lilies are dug up. Gardening professionals recommend doing this 3-4 weeks after flowering, but not earlier.
If the lilies have faded, what to do with the bulbs, how to transplant them to another flower bed? If the transplant is done ahead of schedule, the flower may not take root or even die. Before planting, the bulb should dry, the dead parts of the plant should also be separated. The root crop must be treated with a barely pink solution of potassium permanganate. This will help disinfect the bulb and protect it from infections. Then it is transplanted into a pre-excavated flowerbed.
Lily Bulb Storage
Only a few varieties of lilies can be left in the ground . Asian hybrid plants tolerate cold winters well, it is better to dig up tubular lilies, place in a mixture of sand and peat, or in sawdust and store in the cellar until spring. You can also limit the storage of bulbs in the refrigerator, but not in the freezer, in a bag of sand and peat or in a substrate of sawdust.
Shelter of bulbs of lilies for the winter
Oriental varieties of lilies for the winter are covered with a layer of peat or foliage of trees. The best insulation for bulbs that will winter in the ground is a layer of snow. By spring, the compost layer is removed according to weather conditions.