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When & How to Prune Lilies for Healthy, Happy Blooms Download Article Everything you need to know about achieving perfectly pruned lilies Co-authored by Savannah Vold Reviewed by Ben Barkan
Last Updated: April 22, 2025 Fact Checked
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Deadheading
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Pruning after Blooming
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Expert Q&A
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This article was reviewed by Ben Barkan and by wikiHow staff writer, Savannah Vold. Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 12 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, Licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor. He holds an associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 372,181 times.
Fragrant, beautiful lilies make a lovely addition to any garden. Plus, they're super easy to prune—all you have to do is deadhead wilted flowers during the blooming season and cut back lilies in the fall. In this article, we’ll teach you when and how to prune your show-stopping lilies, so you can count on them looking gorgeous in the spring-summer months and staying healthy during winter to promote the best blooms around. Flowering foliage, here you come!
Things You Should Know
Deadhead dying lily flowers through the blooming season for a tidy, well-kept look. Follow the stalk of the flower to the flower spike and use your shears to cut it at a 45-degree angle.
Remove yellow or browning stalks in the late fall after your first frost. Cut dead growth at the base of the plant using your shears to make 45-degree snips.
Only remove leaves that have fully browned. The leaves of lily plants provide valuable nutrients, so only snip them once they're dead.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Deadheading Dying Blooms
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1 Cut off dying blooms throughout the blooming season. If any of your lilies begin to wilt or look brown during peak blooming season (spring-summer months), deadheading them is a great way to get rid of unwanted decay. Removing dead lily heads may encourage new growth and make help make your lily plant and garden look neater.[1]XResearch source Expert Answer Q
A wikiHow reader asked: "Do I need to deadhead my lilies?"
Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. EXPERT ADVICE Answer from Maggie Moran:
Maggie Moran, a professional horticulturist, responds: "It is a good idea to deadhead lilies not only for the appearance of your garden but also to help the lily focus its growing energies to new blooms."
2 Use small, lightweight shears to prune your lilies. They tend to make a gentler cut than other types of shears, like grass shears or loppers and are ideal for your delicate lily blooms. From deadheading to pruning, this multi-purpose tool has got you covered.[2]XResearch source Advertisement
3 Deadhead the stem by cutting the flower spike at its base. Follow the stalk of the lily to the base of the flower spike (a group of flowers arising from the main stem). Lilies flower at the end of a long stalk attached to the center of the lily plant. To “deadhead” lilies, follow the stalk to the flower spike and locate the first set of leaves on the stem needing removal. Use pruning shears to clip the stalk at a 45-degree angle at the first set of leaves arising from the flower spike.[3]XResearch source
If you cannot see into the center of the plant, use your hand to follow the stalk down to the base. Get as close to the leaves as possible to encourage new growth.
Wear gloves to protect your hands during gardening.
4 Disinfect your shears with rubbing alcohol between cuts. If you’re shearing dead or diseased blooms or foliage, it’s important to disinfect the shears in between cuts. Otherwise, you risk spreading disease to healthy parts of the plant. To disinfect, dip, spray, or wipe the blades of the shears in rubbing alcohol with a concentration of 70% or higher.[4]XResearch source
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Cutting Back Lilies after Blooming Season
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1 Leave yellowing or browning stalks until late fall. If you notice that some of your lily’s foliage is turning yellow but not brown, leave it alone. The yellow stalks won’t affect the overall health of your plant, and cutting them down early actually decreases the amount of energy the plant can put into creating new flowers for the next blooming season.[5]XResearch source
2 Prune back yellow stalks after the first frost. Once the first frost has occurred, your lily plant no longer needs the energy produced by the foliage stalks, making it a-ok to cut them back. Use your shears to cut the yellow foliage stalks down to the ground at a 45-degree angle.[6]X Trustworthy Source Penn State ExtensionEducational organization dedicated to delivering science-based information to people, businesses, and communities Go to source
Leave about 2 inches (5 cm) of stalk above the soil to mark its location.
Add 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) of mulch around the base of your lovely lilies to protect the bulbs from the winter cold.
3 Remove entire stems of mostly brown leaves. Remove the entire stem if quite a few leaves on one stem are brown. Follow the stem to the base of the lily plant, then use your pruning shears to cut off the entire stem at a 45-degree angle.[7]X Trustworthy Source Penn State ExtensionEducational organization dedicated to delivering science-based information to people, businesses, and communities Go to source
4 Clip the tips of browning leaves. If you notice that just the tips of the leaves on your lily plant are browning, you don’t need to remove the whole stem. Instead, make a 45-degree clip just below the browning tip.[8]XResearch source
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Expert Q&A
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Question When can you cut back daylilies? Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Expert Answer You should cut back daylilies after the growing season has concluded. Wait until there are no more blooms on your plant to begin pruning. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 46
Question Can Asiatic lilies be cut back? Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Expert Answer Yes, they should be cut back after the first frost of fall has passed but before the ground is frozen. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 30
Question Should I cut old leaves off? Community Answer You don't need to. Once they're brown the plant no longer needs them, but it does no harm to leave them on if you don't want to remove them. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 23
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement
Tips
Researching the specifics of the type of lily in your garden is helpful, particularly if you have lilies with unusual blooming habits. For instance, the Resurrection Lily has a flower that emerges after the leaves die away, making it especially important to allow the leaves to die back on their own instead of removing them! Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
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Things You'll Need
Lightweight pruning shears
70% Rubbing alcohol
Water
Gardening gloves
Mulch (optional)
Video
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Reviewed by: Ben Barkan Garden & Landscape Designer This article was reviewed by Ben Barkan and by wikiHow staff writer, Savannah Vold. Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 12 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, Licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor. He holds an associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. This article has been viewed 372,181 times. 28 votes - 94% Co-authors: 12Updated: April 22, 2025 Views: 372,181 Categories: Featured Articles | Growing FlowersArticle SummaryX
To prune lilies, deadhead any dying blooms throughout the growing season, which will encourage new growth and improve the appearance of your garden. To deadhead a bloom, follow the stalk of the flower all the way down to the base of the plant. Then, use small, lightweight shears to cut the stalk off right at the base. If you're cutting off multiple stalks, disinfect the shears in 1 part vinegar and 2 parts water in between cuts. For more advice from our Horticulture co-author, like how to prune off browning foliage, scroll down!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Supatra M.
Oct 12, 2023
"Thank you very much for the information about Peace Lilies on how to take care them. I followed it by reading many times. My plant turned two years old and I need to separate and repot. Always in nice conditions with light and some sunshine too. Now will have more green flowers."..." more
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Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Reviewed by: Ben Barkan Garden & Landscape Designer Co-authors: 12Updated: April 22, 2025 Views: 372,18194% of readers found this article helpful. 28 votes - 94% Click a star to add your vote 94% of people told us that this article helped them.
Supatra M.
Oct 12, 2023
"Thank you very much for the information about Peace Lilies on how to take care them. I followed it by reading many times. My plant turned two years old and I need to separate and repot. Always in nice conditions with light and some sunshine too. Now will have more green flowers."..." more
Bob Anderson
Aug 12, 2022
"I have have a dozen or so of different coloured tree lilies, the tallest being just over 6ft and all flower really well and the scent is marvellous. The article has reinforced what I have thought was the right thing to do repruning, etc. Thanks."..." more
Lia Warner
Jan 18, 2019
"I have grown a love for gardening in the last 2 years. I know very little about gardening and am not sure who to ask. These articles and step-by-step diagrams are a godsend. Thanks for putting in the time, as they are very much appreciated!"..." more Rated this article:
Mary James
Aug 28, 2017
"As lilies are new to me, I went on your website for advice. Best thing I did, everything was explained and easy to understand."..." more
Amy Curtis
Jun 1, 2017
"Knowing to wait for foliage to wither and die because it is storing energy for the bulb was very helpful." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Download Article Everything you need to know about achieving perfectly pruned lilies Co-authored by Savannah Vold Reviewed by Ben Barkan 
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Reviewed by: Ben Barkan Garden & Landscape Designer This article was reviewed by Ben Barkan and by wikiHow staff writer, Savannah Vold. Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 12 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, Licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor. He holds an associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. This article has been viewed 372,181 times. 28 votes - 94% Co-authors: 12 Updated: April 22, 2025 Views: 372,181 Categories: Featured Articles | Growing Flowers Article SummaryX
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1 Cut off dying blooms throughout the blooming season. If any of your lilies begin to wilt or look brown during peak blooming season (spring-summer months), deadheading them is a great way to get rid of unwanted decay. Removing dead lily heads may encourage new growth and make help make your lily plant and garden look neater.[1] Expert Answer Q 
2 Use small, lightweight shears to prune your lilies. They tend to make a gentler cut than other types of shears, like grass shears or loppers and are ideal for your delicate lily blooms. From deadheading to pruning, this multi-purpose tool has got you covered.[2] Advertisement 
3 Deadhead the stem by cutting the flower spike at its base. Follow the stalk of the lily to the base of the flower spike (a group of flowers arising from the main stem). Lilies flower at the end of a long stalk attached to the center of the lily plant. To “deadhead” lilies, follow the stalk to the flower spike and locate the first set of leaves on the stem needing removal. Use pruning shears to clip the stalk at a 45-degree angle at the first set of leaves arising from the flower spike.[3] 
4 Disinfect your shears with rubbing alcohol between cuts. If you’re shearing dead or diseased blooms or foliage, it’s important to disinfect the shears in between cuts. Otherwise, you risk spreading disease to healthy parts of the plant. To disinfect, dip, spray, or wipe the blades of the shears in rubbing alcohol with a concentration of 70% or higher.[4] Advertisement 
1 Leave yellowing or browning stalks until late fall. If you notice that some of your lily’s foliage is turning yellow but not brown, leave it alone. The yellow stalks won’t affect the overall health of your plant, and cutting them down early actually decreases the amount of energy the plant can put into creating new flowers for the next blooming season.[5] 
2 Prune back yellow stalks after the first frost. Once the first frost has occurred, your lily plant no longer needs the energy produced by the foliage stalks, making it a-ok to cut them back. Use your shears to cut the yellow foliage stalks down to the ground at a 45-degree angle.[6] 
3 Remove entire stems of mostly brown leaves. Remove the entire stem if quite a few leaves on one stem are brown. Follow the stem to the base of the lily plant, then use your pruning shears to cut off the entire stem at a 45-degree angle.[7] 
4 Clip the tips of browning leaves. If you notice that just the tips of the leaves on your lily plant are browning, you don’t need to remove the whole stem. Instead, make a 45-degree clip just below the browning tip.[8] Advertisement 
Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. 
Community Answer You don't need to. Once they're brown the plant no longer needs them, but it does no harm to leave them on if you don't want to remove them. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 23 
Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy.