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Spent Asiatic lilies

B3B3 Posts: 26,429

I have deadheaded my spent lilies and left the leaves.

Do I dig them up in the autumn or leave them in containers?

Some containers are moveable and some aren't

In London. Keen but lazy.

Posts

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 14,334

    They will be fine left where they are.

    It is a good idea to mark where they are, so you don't damage them if you are digging.

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • B3B3 Posts: 26,429

    Thanks Pd. Do nothing is just the answer I likeimage

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,439

    This is what I do with my potted ones: I top up the pot with fresh compost and add a little slow release fertiliser if I have any which is usually not. Then I move the pots to the utility part of my garden and just forget about them apart from watering if it's really dry. Sometime over the winter when the leaves have died off, I cut the stems and wait for them to start growing again. Then they are moved round to a prominent place when they bud up. This works well for me.

    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • flowerydelflowerydel Posts: 16

    Watch out for the Lily Beetle.  I cut my dead heads off and  then the stems partway when leaves turn brown, but leave the lower stem to die naturally, then gently pull them off the bulb about October - they usually come up with little effort -  so that they do not rot from the left stems.  I feed with Tomato Plant Food throughout the growing season and blood, fish and bone in September.

    I also spray the soil regularly with Rose Gun 3 cos of the Lily Beetle, and check there are no larvae during the growing period.  I completely lost growth one season, and it took 2 years, completely changing and disposing of the soil and a lot of TLC  for my bulbs to recover. I do not move them, they stay in situ in their wooden pots, but I may put other plants in front just to hide them while they are dieing. I have had some of my bulbs over 25 years.

    Last edited: 30 July 2017 14:11:04

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 14,334

    Very toxic spray, that will kill a lot of good bugs.

    Lilly beetles are easy to manage by squashing them.

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • B3B3 Posts: 26,429

    Thanks for all the advice chaps.

    I just ' discovered'  lilies this year. .

    Found one beetle. Satisfying crunchimage

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Tanty2Tanty2 Posts: 221

    Hi - I have lots of Asiatic lilies and I leave the foliage till November (ish) then usually just pull the dead stems out the compost (they come away easily - if they put up any resistance, I just leave them and get them in the Spring).  A little top dressing in the containers in the Spring and they come back thriving :)  I completely ignore the containers in the Winter, just make sure they're raised off the ground a little to keep them draining.  Where I  live there's freezing winds and frequent frosts - the asiatic lilies take it all in their stride!

  • punkdoc says:

    Very toxic spray, that will kill a lot of good bugs.

    Lilly beetles are easy to manage by squashing them.

    See original post

     

    Yes, I am sorry to say it is.  I do not use insect killers as the norm, and are careful to spray in my lily pots.  I find it impossible to squash them, they are so hard.  And impossible to see in the soil once they have dropped off the lily.

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