Winterizing Water Lilies

Rebecca's Garden : Episode REB-660 -- More Projects »
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Step 1: Lift the lily from the pond.

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Step 2: Trim back the foliage and let it overwinter indoors in a container with no holes.
When it's time to winterize the water garden, you'll want to protect your water lilies, and it's easy to do.

  • First, pull them out of the pond--this is the hardest part as they can be heavy.

  • Cut down all of the foliage, buds included. Don't throw the buds out. Just put them in a dish of water, and if you're lucky, they'll bloom.

  • Once you've cut off all the stems, place the lilies in a tub with just enough water to cover the crown. Then store them in a basement or a cool location. Be sure to keep the plants moist throughout the winter season.