Lily-of-the-valley
By: Garden Gate staff
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Growing pains
Is it a struggle getting lily-of-the-valley to grow? Once you bring a plant home from the store, its roots dry out quickly, which could be the problem.
Get gorgeous blossoms like these and save time — and money — with our simple step-by-step instructions on dividing and replanting. All you need is a friend who has lily-of-the-valley to spare!
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Divide and conquer
You don’t have to rush to it now, though. Just wait until late summer — it’s the best time to lift a clump of lily-of-the-valley from one garden and transplant it into your own. Here’s how:
Step 1: Dig around a section of plants so their roots are exposed. You can do this while it still has leaves or after the foliage has started to die down.
Step 2: Cut the clump of plants. We used an old knife to get divisions with five or more pink tips, or pips, like the ones in the close-up to the left.
Step 3: Reset the plants so the tips are just below soil surface.
Step 4: Thoroughly soak the newly-planted area and lightly mulch with chopped leaves to keep soil moist.
You should have fragrant flowers next spring, but if not, you’ll definitely enjoy some the following year!
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