The leaves change color and fall. The gardening season is almost certainly coming to an end. What happens to the lily that is in the perennial bed or in the pot? It should not be overwintered without a cut!
When and how should you cut back lilies for overwintering?
To prepare lilies for winter, they should only be cut back when their above-ground parts turn yellow. For hardy lilies in the bed, a radical cut is made down to the ground; for potted lilies, they are also cut back and the pot is then made winter-proof.
Radically shorten before winter
If the hardy lilies are to remain in the bed over the winter, they should be cut down before the first period of frost. Many people make the mistake of cutting too early. Only when the above-ground parts of the plant such as leaves and stems have yellowed is the radical cut down to the ground.
Poted lilies are also cut back as winter approaches. They should then be winterized:
- either: wrap the pot with jute and place it on a wooden plate in a protected place
- or: overwinter the onion (dig it up and place it in)
Tips & Tricks
When cutting, only use clean (€14.00 on Amazon) and ideally disinfected tools. Otherwise there is a risk that the lily will be attacked by pathogens.
