Find out if your lily light bulb involve to be lifted out of the ground for the wintertime , according to a bulb expert .

Grant Webster

After bask their dazzling flowers in summer , do you call for to liftlily bulbsfor the winter ? The warm answer is probably not . However , some significant factors that influence if you could leave the bulb in the ground include your particular growing precondition and yourHardiness Zone . Here ’s what you call for to know about whether to lift lily bulbs in the fall and , if you do , the best way to put in them .

‘Black Beauty’ Lily

Credit:Grant Webster

Jay Hutchinsis the ecumenical director of Brent and Becky ’s Bulbs .

What Are True Lilies?

Many blossoming plant are called lilies , includingcalla lily , canna lily , daylily , andwater lily , but they are n’t actually true lilies . A truthful lily is in the genusLiliumand grows from large , scaly bulbs . True lily produce one shank and have narrow , strappy folio . The flowers have six anther and six petals , making it easy to distinguish a true lily from other plants with “ lily ” in their names .

Many types of dead on target lily are relegate ground on specific traits , such as bloom frame and maturation . The North American Lily Society categorize on-key lilies into nine divisions or groups . Several dead on target lilies are crossbreed , such as Asiatic hybrids , LA hybrids , Orienpet , Oriental crossbreed , and trumpet hybrid . Easter lilyand Canada lily are also examples of true lily .

Lily Hardiness Zones

Most lawful lilies grow inUSDA Hardiness Zones3 - 9 , so they can be grown in many regions of the United States .

geographical zone 3 includes freezing climates with low temperatures ranging from -40 ° F to -30 ° F . States in this geographical zone include Maine , Minnesota , New York , North Dakota , Wyoming , Wisconsin , and northern areas of Montana .

zona 9 has fond weather but includes blue temperatures from 20 ° F to 30 ° F . States in this zone include California , Alabama , Texas , Louisiana , Mississippi , Florida , and percentage of Arizona and Oregon .

Do Lilies Need to Be Lifted in the Fall?

True lily do n’t need to be swipe in the fall and can remain in the soil . Lily bulbs can stand firm inhuman to freezing temperature . “ True Lilies — botanical nameLiliumand in the family Liliaceae — typically do not ask to be rescind , as they are hardy in Zones 3–8 , sometimes 9 , “ tell Jay Hutchins , cosmopolitan manager of Brent and Becky ’s Bulbs in Virginia .

True lily needwell - draining soiland should be planted in anarea that have full sunor some light nuance and within their Hardiness Zone . As long as their canonic needs are met , on-key lily do n’t need to be pulled from the ground .

“ Given those conditions are met , they aregiven 2 - 3 in of compostin the fall , and you are in zone 3–8 or 3–9 , depending on the variety , lilies do n’t require to be lifted and should perennialize , ” says Hutchins . “ That is , come back year after year , and give you a slap-up show in your garden or in an arrangement . ”

Why to Leave Lily Bulbs in the Ground

Truelily bulbs planted in their produce zonesare best left in the ground in the fall for a couple of reasons . For starters , lifting bulbs hold meter , zip , and forcible toil . “ arise any bulb , corm , tuber , or industrial plant for the saki of winter shelter is back - go body of work , ” sound out Hutchins . “ If anything in your garden meet the wintertime hardiness zone ’s downhearted temperature , impart it be . ”

Lilies have fragile roots , which is another ground to entrust them cosy in the ground . “ Their delicate radical system and fragile scales can be damaged if not handled cautiously , ” says Hutchins .   If you postulate to rescind a lilium bulb , do it cautiously to fend off harm the tooth root . “ If you mustmove a lily , apprehend down deep enough to bring the surrounding soil with it , as this will protect the bulb in exaltation , ” he add .

How to Store Lifted Lily Bulbs

After you lift lily bulbs , stash away them decently is vital for a successful planting in the next season . “ Store the bulbs between 2 - 3 inches of peat moss , vermiculite , or sawdust , ” says Hutchins . Put them in a dry , ventilated area with near airflow to avoid musty or gentle electric-light bulb . “ If you have a bunch of medulla oblongata , you may salt away them layered in a air container , such as a composition board loge out of direct sunshine and with effective airing . ”