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Lilium - Lily
In my opinion no garden is complete without Lilies. Why? Because they are spectacular, aromatic, beautifully shaped and the flowers range in size from one inch to one foot. Many Lily varieties attain a height of three to five feet. Lilium is a plant for every gardener as they are not difficult to grow. Some varieties require special care but there are several Lily Hybrids which are easy to grow and ideal for the gardening beginner.
Plant your Lily bulbs in the fall and observe the dazzling array of blooms the following year. Lilies require a sunny area with good drainage. The bulbs will not tolerate waterlogged conditions therefore the well drained site is paramount for successful growth.
Plants the Lily bulbs immediately and do not allow the bulbs to remain packaged for a prolonged period as they will dry out. The depth for planting Lilies is three to four inches deep for small varieties and four to six inches deep for the large Lilies.
Prior to planting the Lily bulbs I prepare a mixture of one part peat, one part compost, one part good topsoil and a heaping handful of Bonemeal. This soil is placed in the freshly dug hole and I surround the Lily bulb with this soil mixture. As excellent drainage is essential I use a few crushed stones in the soil mixture. It is advisable to sprinkle sand at the base of hole however my soil type is sandy therefore I omit this procedure.
Lilies are available in several shapes. The Turk's Cap boasts petals which are swept backward and the best example you will view of this particular group is the Tiger Lily. The botanical name is Lilium tigrinum. The Trumpet shaped Lilies grow tightly together and produce a trumpet shape. The Bowl shaped Lily is usually the larger varieties and the petals open widely creating a bowl shape to the bloom.
You should dead-head spent blooms and cut the stems back to ground level in the fall. Some blooms are quite tall and require staking. In my gardening beds I plant small perennials in front of the Lilies. This provides a bit of shade for the lower portion of the plant and adds interest to the garden.
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