How we cut back giant tree lily plants after blooms have died

Rogers famous giant tree lilies have grown bigger and bigger each year and put on a glorious show of colour and fragrance each summer - but what about when the flowers have finished?
Roger shows us how he leaves the stems and leaves, after the blooms have drooped off, while they are still green through late summer and early autumn until the leaves fade from green to yellow... and then it is time to cut them back.
Leaving the stems and leaves for those extra few months will allow the leaves to store more energy back down to the bulbs below ground in readiness for even more flowers next summer!
The lily variety seen in the video is an Orange and bronze variety which we think is called Debbie
Once cut back the bulbs seem to happy in cold weather they are several inches deep into the soil so well protected from frosty weather - and seem to come back every despite some cold winters.
This autumn / fall Roger is trying out a new type of environmentally friendly mulch which is a bi-product of the green energy industry ... products like this could be a big part of our 'green' gardening future as we try to reduce the use of peat.

[@truegrit7697]

Thank you - I wondered how to care for my lily trees post bloom :)

[@rogthegardener1]

You are very welcome - glad to be of service!

[@lyonheart84]

They made an impressive display this Summer Roger, look forward to seeing them next year 👍

[@rogthegardener1]

Thanks yes seems ages ago that I was wandering around sticking my nose in those flowers !

[@haroldbetterson1877]

You inspired me to grow lilies last year don’t know if you remember? Well there were fantastic but didn’t last long? The wind blew the leaves off and left the stamens. Gona trim the foliage back and put the pot back in the greenhouse this weekend ☺️

[@rogthegardener1]

That's great to hear Harold - hope you get more stems and flowers next year :-)

[@GrowHealthTV]

Lovely lily pics. I will be cutting mine back shortly here in the USA.

[@rogthegardener1]

Great, all these seasons keep rolling in ... spring wont be long!?

[@marierichardson7892]

Thank you x

[@rogthegardener1]

You're welcome - thanks for your comment!

[@MyPlantWorld]

Very well explained

[@rogthegardener1]

Many thanks for your comment - enjoy your garden!

[@chrisniehaus3753]

What is the plant growing right in the middle. It looks like a weed.

[@rogthegardener1]

That’s a ‘wild’ foxglove, thanks for asking 👍

[@lucyrios1883]

Hi. I have 2 lily trees planted in pots that didn't cut the dead foliage as moved house and left them there till I have time to pick them. What happen if not cutting the dried stems? Thanks. Love lilies and your channel and videos of lily trees.

[@rogthegardener1]

Hi Lucy, many thanks for your comments! No problem if you have left the old stems there you can still cut them off any time (if you do cut them off it may be worth putting the old stems in a 'hidden corner' of your garden if possible ... because there may be helpful insects overwintering inside - its good to look after the wildlife?) Thanks again!

[@ILjobber1]

I have 3 purple lily tres and would like to know what do i do in the winter to the stalks? Will they come back the next year after year?

[@rogthegardener1]

Hi thanks for your comment, are your lilies in flower yet ? Ours here in the uk come back year after, usually bigger and stronger each year 😀. Where in the world do you live? I do nothing apart from cutting back the stems once the leaves start to turn yellow or brown, as shown in the video. If we had colder winters I might consider adding a layer of organic mulch on top of the soil to protect the bulbs a little, but our bulbs have been outside in the soil in temperatures as cold as -8 C on occasions and don’t seem to be damaged.

[@ILjobber1]

@@rogthegardener1 Thanks for replying back I am a 1st year on lily trees and mine will they told me will get to be ft tall. I am in Illinois in the U.S.and our winters ar not fun. So usually leaves over any plant. So you cut the stalk down after frost when its brown and they come back up 2nd year? Oh yeah I have on 2 of my trees which are not high this year 2 blossoms ready to open on the 3rd 1.

[@rogthegardener1]

@@ILjobber1 OK - thanks, then maybe a good layer of mulch over the soil overwinter will hep protect against frosts (it is always worth asking at local garden centres or gardening clubs what is right for your area as they will have local knowledge - Good luck ,please keep us posted on your progress, hopefully next year you will have even more stems and flowers ...!?

[@ILjobber1]

@@rogthegardener1 Roger how long did it tak you to get alot of limbs on ya lily tree2yrs 3years?and did you use any fertlizer miracle grow

[@rogthegardener1]

@@ILjobber1 I think I started with about 3 bulbs and they increased by a couple of stems per year for the first 2 or 3 years ... we probably have about 10 stems now they must have been there 6 or 7 years I guess. Re fertilizers, we may have different formulations here in the UK than the states, I don't usually use miracle grow as I prefer a fertilizer with a high potash content to encourage more flowers (it can possibly also have the added benefit of 'toughening' the cell walls to help protect from frosts and disease) ... not sure what brands you have over there ... but maybe a rose fertilizer would do it ...again probably best to ask a local garden centre what they suggest ...?

[@sonjalamb1895]

4:35 4:35 😊

[@rogthegardener1]

@@sonjalamb1895 hope you enjoyed, thank you for your comment, enjoy your garden!