When Should Enormous Lilies Be Pruned?

Lilies are a popular choice for their fragrant blooms and giant trumpet-shaped flowers. They are easy to prune, as they deadhead wilted flowers during the blooming season and cut back lilies after blooming, before winter, and after frost. To do this, carefully trim away the dead foliage so that only healthy green leaves remain.

If your flower bed is large enough, you can prune your lilies and leave the clippings to grow back into new plants. Trim away the dead foliage so that only healthy green leaves remain. Start by using a folding saw to remove some of the outer stems completely, cutting them back as low to the ground as possible. If missed in the fall, cut back if missed in the fall.

In regions with mild winters, a late winter pruning is recommended. Once the foliage of your lilies starts to turn yellow and die back naturally, you can cut it back to about 2 inches above the ground. This step helps divert the plant’s energy to the bulb. In regions with a late winter, a late pruning is recommended.

Pruning lilies in the fall or early spring to remove spent foliage is essential. Wait until the foliage has completely turned brown and limp, then cut all top growth to the ground. Lilies should be lifted, divided, and replanted every four years or so, but they often take a year to recover from being transplanted before. Tidy up the lily flowerheads once the petals have fallen, trimming them back to just above a pair of leaves. When tidying up lilies, leave the plant to dry out.

In conclusion, lilies are a versatile and easy-to-care-for plant that can be pruned when needed.