Lily of the valley offers us magnificent bells at 1is may. This small emblematic plant can be grown in the ground, in a pot or in a planter, in the countryside and in the city. Rustic, it is not demanding in terms of maintenance. She just needs a always fresh ground but beware of excess water which inevitably leads to gray rot. Let’s see how to plant lily of the valley and why it is highly advisable to cut its flowers as soon as they fade.
Do you plant muguet
It’s from thefall that we plant lily of the valley to take advantage of its bloom the following year in April May. It is however possible to plant it in the spring when all risk of frost has passed, but it will be necessary to wait a year before seeing its pretty fragrant bells bloom. One can however hasten its flowering by creating an atmosphere close to that of a greenhouse. Just cover each foot with half a plastic bottle.
Lily of the valley likes loamy soils, costs, well drained, light that we have taken care to enrich with humus. It is the small plant of undergrowth par excellence, but it can also be installed in a rock garden, in a bed or in a flower bed, preferably under the trees. Its exposure must indeed be judiciously chosen. We plant lily of the valley mi-shadowseven toombre because it fears the sun, in the ground or in a pot, following the following planting method.
- Digging to a depth of at least 25 cm,
- Remove all weed roots and loosen the soil,
- Mix with topsoil potting soilhumus or a layer of leaves so that the soil is well enriched,
- Dig a hole 15cm deep,
- Insert the rhizome point upwards, taking care not to push it too deeply and to spread its claws (roots) without damaging them (they are particularly fragile),
- Cover with the enriched soil so that the bud is just at the edge of the soil surface and barely covered with soil because if planted too deep the lily of the valley will not bloom,
- Firm enough around the plant,
- Water copiously.
If you wish to plant several lily of the valley rhizomes, you must separate them about ten centimeters one another. A maximum of 15 claws are counted per square meter so that the feet have enough space to develop well. It is interesting to cultivate different varieties of lily of the valley, knowing that today there are many cultivars. We can thus create a carpet with a heady scent and whose bells come in different colors (white, pink, dotted with red dots) and with plain, variegated, striped foliage…
For a culture of lily of the valley in a jar it is advisable to choose a container with a pierced bottom and about fifteen centimeters in diameter. Drainage must be guaranteed either by adding sand that is mixed with the potting soil, or by a layer of clay balls or gravel deposited at the bottom of the pot.
Maintain thrush
Thrush is able to very quickly form a carpet as long as it is planted in a suitable soil and its exposure pleases it. This easy-to-grow plant has only one requirement: a careful watering.
During the summer or at any other time in the event of severe drought, it is indeed necessary to water it in order to keep the soil cool. However, watering should be moderate because lily of the valley hates soggy soil which promote its decay. It is therefore necessary to find a good compromise, knowing that the soil must never dry out… Keeping the soil cool and moist guarantees abundant flowering the following year.
The dry leaves fall spontaneously. There is no need to take care of it. This hardy plant being able to withstand temperatures down to -25°C, it can spend the winter outside without any problems.
And hoeing time is useful to keep the soil loose, cool, eliminate weeds, and check that the Red-headed Hepiales caterpillars do not attack the rhizomes. If this is the case, you can use a natural repellent spray, such as fern manure or garlic manure.
It is strongly recommended to handle the small red berries thrush with gloves because they are extremely toxic. For greater safety, it is advisable to cut the faded flowers without waiting so that the fruits do not form. You have to be very careful with young children, but also with pets because the small red balls of lily of the valley are particularly attractive. Avoiding their formation eliminates the risk of poisoning.