How to Prune Oriental Lilies

Oriental lilies are an easy perennial requiring little care. Just give them in full sun, plant them at the correct depth (specified on the bulb's packaging), well-draining soil, and a little water, and they will bloom beautifully. You may also wish to fertilize lilies when the bulbs send up green leaves in the spring, but if you use organic mulch around the lilies and replace it a few times a year, fertilization probably won't be necessary. Really, the only area where Oriental lilies are somewhat picky is in how you prune them.

Pruning shears

Mulch

Deadhead flowers by cutting them off with clean pruning shears as they fade. This keeps the plant's energy busy growing roots and foliage instead of seeds. Do not remove any more of the stem than necessary while deadheading, or the plant's health may be damaged.

Watch for stems to turn completely brown. While the stems are still green, they are adding nutrients and energy into the roots, so it's important not to cut them back. Typically, the stems turn brown in late summer or fall.

Cut stems down to ground level or just slightly above when they are completely brown, using clean pruning shears.

Alternatively, cut stems down to the ground in the early spring, if you prefer. Either pruning time works equally well, although most people choose not to allow the brown stems to linger throughout winter for aesthetic reasons.

Add mulch around your Oriental lilies after pruning them. Lilies require organic mulch to keep them moist and at a comfortable temperature. Compost, bark mulch, cocoa shells, or wood chips work well. You may also wish to cover the lilies with a few evergreen boughs or straw to help protect them from frost.

If you want to cut Oriental lily flowers for bouquets, leave as much of the stem on the plant as possible. Some gardeners make a cutting bed for lilies, and replace those bulbs every year, since cutting into the plant's green stem at all can weaken the plant.

Although it's best to plant Oriental lilies in full sun (because they are more apt to grow strong and tall in such a setting), some gardeners have success growing them in part shade, although they are usually not as tall.

It's a good idea to stake Oriental lilies, and this should be done shortly after planting. Keep the stakes in the soil even after pruning the dead stems all the way back; this will ensure the bulb won't be damaged while you try to re-insert the stake.