Any Lilly experts ?

[andy]

I'm going to be creating a nice, large border at work, some of which has a few large ish trees in.

The border is south facing but parts of it are in semi shade.

As it's by the entrance, i'd like to create a border that's full of colour in different heights and forms.

I was looking at mainly herbaceous....Echinaceas, Heleniums, Kniphofia, Phlox, Geraniums etc etc

However, i was also looking at interplanting with groups of different lillies...preferably as scented as possible.

I've had a brief look through Parkers catalogue and it would appear the Orentals are the scented ones whilst he Asiatics tend to be more colourful.  

I'd like to maybe have a mix....some shorter, scented Orientals at the front with some taller plants at the back.

Now i'm aware of lilly beetle along with slugs as pests, i'm able to spray if needed but is there any other P&D I need to look out for.

I was thinking of getting them as bulbs and planting in autumn in groups of 100 per variety and i've identified around 12 varieties.

Any tips on growing or over wintering them ?  Do they need lots of water or feed?  What about soil types....we're fairly neutral to slightly alkaline.

Any tips would be welcome

[andy]

This is the border concerned. The Delphs are staying as is the lavender. But the grass on the right of the black line will be taken out. The far shrub...an Eleagnus, has already been cut back by 4 foot as has the Mahonia in the foreground

[Rosefriend]

What a fantastic border to make....wildly jealous of course but one thing that I think you have to take into account is that the wonderful 2m mostly smelly lilies need a year and more to reach that height, sucking eggs time, I know, but it is a shame that you have to wait for the "final" effect!!!! I spray my Lilies twice (intervals of 2 weeks) and never have any problems with the red devils. I have to put down slug pellets at least for the first half of the year..

I think that Lilies can be a bit like Roses in that their names are/can be changed here but I bet you will get some wonderful ones...

Looking forward to seeing what you choose andy,!!

[Tig]

If you buy decent sized bulbs to start with you will get a much better display quicker. I plant my bulbs 6"- 8" deep as I think they are a bit like clematis, they love the sun but the bulb is better if kept a bit cooler. Don't plant them too densely Andy, as they need decent air circulation or they can get a fungal spot disease on the leaves which causes a lot of damage & contaminates the soil.

I'm not an expert but I do have quite a lot, despite spraying mine with provado as they emerge I still have a battle every year with the red devils!

I love the martagon types, they are not scented but you get some gorgeous spotty flowers in bright colours. My tree lilies are both wonderfully fragrant, and the red devils don't seem to like them quite as much as the other types.

You need to get them planted asap, as long as the soil isn't frozen they will be fine & you should have a good display this year if you get them in before 'spring', leave them too late and they will be shorter & weaker this year.

[andy]

Thanks all.

I've looked at the Martagon varieties, Tig but they are very expensive...£350 for 100 bulbs rather than £60 for other varieties.

If i do go for Lillies (i like to involve my volunteers in the selection of plants), they will be planted in the autumn along with the rest of the border. This will give me time to identify what i want to keep of the existing plants, what i need to move and what new plants will do where.

[Chuckles]

Sounds lovely Andy you should watch this on bbc iplayer.... Great British Garden Revival - Series 2: 8. Lilies and Woodland Gardens he made it sound so easy to have them in the borders. I've never been succesful with them in my borders and have always grown them in pots.

[Rosefriend]

I have been looking online here in Germany and spotted one by my favourite online GC...look at this andy,..isn't it a dream- called "Eyeliner"!!

[andy]

That is superb RF.

[maglonian]

Piggy backing on Andy's thread but are peruvian lilies hardy enough to leave in the ground ? It's well drained, quite gritty soil

[Rosefriend]

Aug 29, 2016 19:17:57 GMT maglonian said:

Piggy backing on Andy's thread but are peruvian lilies hardy enough to leave in the ground ? It's well drained, quite gritty soil

Peruvian Lily is the common name for Alstromeria's maglonian,....

Think Tig, answered your query...just a sec..

Yes, here is the link..

gardenworld.proboards.com/post/550721/thread

[maglonian]

Thanks RF. Sometimes I can't see the wood for the trees.