| Around Easter I usually receive at least one or two Easter lilies, hyacinths, and paperwhites. Can I transplant these florist-shop gifts into my garden? If so, how do I go about it. Thanks for your help. Monica Willis |
| Usually the paperwhites are not winter hardy and are quite exhausted by the forcing process so they are better discarded. The hyacinths can be planted in the flower garden garden as can the lilies. The hyacinths may take a year or two to recover before they bloom again, but they should survive. The lilies, depending on the type the florist grew, may or not be garden hardy but it is certainly worth a try. The hyacinths and lilies need a sunny or partially sunny location with well drained soil, meaning not a soggy spot. A slight slope is excellent. Dig a hole larger than the pot, work in some organic matter such as compost, and plant the root ball at the same level it was in the pot. Water well and mulch around but not over or touching the stem and leaves. The hyacinth leaves should eventually yellow and wither, this is normal. The lily stem should continue to thrive until fall. |
