When Are They Allowed To Be Cut Down?

Tiger lilies are a beautiful flower that can become large and overgrown if not properly cared for. The best time to prune tiger lilies is in the fall before winter, as the leaves turn yellow and die back at the end of summer, preparing the plant for its dormant stage for winter. If you live in an area with very cold temperatures, you may want to mulch around the base of the plant.

To keep tiger lilies blooming year after year, you need to cut them back when they stop blooming. This ensures that the plant puts all its energy into producing new flowers, rather than setting. The best time to prune your tiger lilies is typically in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. This timing allows for the removal of dead or dying foliage.

Tiger lilies grow well in USDA hardiness zones, and their white flowers feature six recurved petals with bold black or dark purple spots. They usually grow in clusters of 5 to 20 blooms per stem. To prune tiger lilies, remove the foliage once they have finished blooming and the foliage begins to yellow and die back. Prune back yellow stalks after the first frost, as the plant no longer needs the energy produced by the foliage stalks. Use sharp pruning shears to cut the yellow foliage stalks down to the ground at a 45-degree angle.

Pruning before winter but after the plant has bloomed prevents cutting back too early, which can hinder the next cycle of flowering. After flowering, deadhead the lilies, but do not cut back the stems. Once all leaves have yellowed by late fall, cut the stalks down to ground level and dispose of them.

Lilies have one growing point, and if cut back, they will stop to grow and not flower. To maintain the health of your tiger lily, cut back the whole plant at the base after it has completely dried out and turned brown, which happens in late summer or early autumn.