Mulching Lilys?

[chowder]

I have a large Lily bed,been there for 6 years.Each year it takes a tremendous amount of work to keep weeds and grass from growing in this bed.This year I am thinking of mulching this bed with wood chips(free). I have been told that this will not be good to do.Does anyone do this and has it been a problem?

[Contrary Housewife]

I just dumped a carload of wood chip mulch on my daylily bed. We've done this two years in a row now with good results. As long as you don't bury the plants they should be good.

Weed first, though.

[Durgan]

I have a large Lily bed,been there for 6 years.Each year it takes a tremendous amount of work to keep weeds and grass from growing in this bed.This year I am thinking of mulching this bed with wood chips(free). I have been told that this will not be good to do.Does anyone do this and has it been a problem?

I wood chip mine also with no harmful results. My patch is 12 feet by 12 feet. Weeds are a problem, so now and then I simply get on my hands and knees and try to eliminate the weeds, at least once a year. I think lilies do better as far as maintenance is concerned if grown in as row. In a square or rectangle they are hard to weed.

[Homekeepn]

We have always mulched all of our perennials. Once the lilies are weeded and mulched they will not need any attention until after they flower. In the fall cut them back to the ground. Some people mulch over them to protect them in winter. I have never done that and haven't had any problem even in Maine.

[MsMarieH]

Just to be clear these are asiatic/oriental lilies? I think they are fine with the mulch. The key is to not cut them back until the stems have thoroughly yellowed back. If you cut them back immediately after flowering, they haven't yet put their energy back into the bulb for the next year. (same with spring bulbs like daffodils).

Marie