Easter Lily

(July 2007)

I need your help.  Would it hurt the bulbs of my Easter lilies if I cut the tops now?  They are leaning over the edge of the flowerbed and I want to thin the monkey grass that is a border.

Trim as little as possible until the foliage begins to decline.  The Easter lilies normally bloom in late May or June and use the next few months producing food for next years growth and flowers.  Don't cut them all the way off, but you can tidy up without doing much damage.

(April 2006)

I received the most beautiful white Easter lily this week and would love to be able to have it in the landscape permanently. Is that possible? If so, where is the best location and when should I plant it? Are there any special treatments to give it to make sure it lives?

Easter lilies are easy plants to grow in the Arkansas landscape. They will multiply each season and bloom beautifully, usually in June each year. Enjoy the flowers as long as they are pretty in the pot, then immediately plant in the garden. Leave the foliage in tact, but cut off the spent flower. Let the foliage grow until it begins to die back. This may occur rather quickly since the plant has been forced, but you often see some new leaves growing back later in the season. The best location is full sun - minimum of 6-8 hours and a well drained site. Add some organic matter to the soil, fertilize once or twice a season and water when dry, and you should be able to enjoy them for years to come.

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