t is so slow growing. Have mulched, composted and fed osmacote. Nothing seems to really “kick in” Have not sent photo as perplexed how to do it
It is a very small tree to begin with. Less than an average human, in height. Feeding is, actually, detrimental to the health of the tree. They thrive in areas that lack nutrients, and will do poorly if overfed.
Here is an article to help with their care:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/elaeocarpus/lily-of-the-valley-tree-info.htm
I fertilized and have kept watered, but nothing came up and the bulbs all had some growth on them. Will they come next spring or are they through?
Lily of the valley should be planted in late fall. They need the cold dormancy period. There is a good chance it will grow and bloom next spring. Just follow its cultural needs as outlined below:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/lily-of-the-valley/growing-lily-of-the-valley.htm
The leaves have fell off 1 plant and the flies were very attracted to the plants this year ?
There are several pests that can harm Pieris, including scales and fungus. We suggest you treat the plant with neem oil, removing any dead leaves and detritus from around the plant.
Here's a helpful article:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/japanese-andromeda/grow-japanese-andromeda.htm
Hi! I live in a zone 5 and have a part of my garden that is more moist and in the shade. I found out that Lily of the Valley likes these conditions. In your article about this plant, it says it is ideal to plant in the fall but what happens if I plant it this spring? Less blooms? Thanks!!
It may not be quite as prolific, but if you plant your Lily of the Valley in the very early part of spring, or even now, it should be fine. It needs a chance to become cold and dormant before it can thrive in the warmer weather. Since you've already read the GKH article on when to plant, I'm sending you a link on understanding dormancy that you might enjoy: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/plant-dormancy.htm
i love the fragrance and am considering planting some. but wild animals such as rabbits, deer, opossums, squirrels and such frequent my neighborhood. will these animals eat the lilies and be harmed?
It is one of those bad boys for sure. While the extension article says few animal poisonings have been reported, to be safe, I would not recommend it in the garden.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/lily-of-the-valley/lily-of-the-valley-toxicity.htm
https://csuvth.colostate.edu/poisonous_plants/Plants/Details/123
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/fgen/fragrant-garden-plants.htm
Can lily of the valley be used to stop soil erosion from water?
Yes! Any spreading or crawling plant will be wonderful for erosion control. This article will help to offer more suggestions for erosion control:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/plants-for-erosion-control.htm