Turn your pond into a picturesque Monet-inspired masterpiece with this popular aquatic plant. It has beautiful bowl-shaped flowers in the summer, and its round lily pads spread out over the water’s surface, giving animals that live in the water a safe place to stay.
Water lilies are a staple in backyard ponds and water features. Their large rounded leaves and showy blooms instantly transform any water garden. While water lilies are relatively low maintenance pruning is an important task for their health and appearance. So should you cut back water lily leaves? Proper pruning encourages new growth and manages the spread of these aquatic plants.
Reasons for Pruning Water Lilies
There are several benefits to pruning water lily foliage:
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Promotes new growth Removing old leaves allows new leaves to emerge This keeps the plants looking fresh
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Manages spread: Water lilies multiply rapidly. Pruning helps control their spread across the surface of ponds.
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Improves water quality: Decaying plant matter can reduce oxygen levels. Pruning helps remove organic waste.
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Reduces pond load: Too many leaves place demands on pumps and filters. Pruning lessens the aquatic plant load in ponds.
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Enhances blooms: With less energy going to foliage, more energy goes to flowering.
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Aesthetics: Pruning gives a tidier appearance and showcases the best leaves.
When to Prune Water Lily Leaves
Water lilies can be pruned from early summer through fall. However, it’s best to avoid pruning during peak bloom time in mid to late summer. Here are the optimal times:
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Early Summer: Prune sparingly to shape plants.
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Fall: Cut back foliage before winter dormancy.
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Winter: Remove any collapsed leaves or decaying matter.
Pruning through the growing season helps maintain a healthy size and prevent overcrowding. One thorough prune in fall before winter sets the plants up for vigor the following spring.
How to Prune Water Lily Leaves
When pruning water lily leaves, it’s important to do it correctly to avoid harming the plant. Follow these tips:
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Use clean, sharp pruners designed for aquatic plants. Disinfect tools first.
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Identify crowns from which new growth emerges. Avoid damaging these.
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Remove old, damaged and diseased foliage first.
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Prioritize outer leaves, leaving inner younger leaves intact.
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Cut leaf stems at an angle near the base to minimize visibility.
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Prune aggressively in fall, leaving just a few leaves per plant.
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Remove all cut foliage from water to prevent decomposition.
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Monitor regrowth and resume pruning as needed.
Taking the time to properly prune water lily foliage promotes plant health for seasons to come. It also gives you the satisfaction of “cleaning house” in your pond!
How Much to Prune Water Lily Leaves
When it comes to how much foliage to remove with each pruning session, moderation is key. Here are some general guidelines:
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Prune only 1/4 to 1/3 of leaves at one time in summer.
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In fall, cut back to just 2-4 leaves per plant before winter.
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Larger, established plants can handle more pruning than younger ones.
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Aggressive pruners can remove up to 50% of leaves but it’s risky.
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Remove extra leaves shading blooms to showcase flowers.
You want some leaves remaining after pruning for continued plant growth. Radical pruning risks damage, so take it slow. Evaluate how the water lily responds, then continue pruning over time.
Tools for Pruning Water Lilies
Using the right tools makes pruning water lily leaves much easier. Some must-have tools include:
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Pruners: Bypass pruners with curved blades specifically for aquatic plants.
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Shears: Long handled loppers or shear scissors to reach across ponds.
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Skimmer: A mesh skimmer to collect cut foliage efficiently.
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Disinfectant: A plant-safe disinfectant to sanitize pruners between uses.
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Pond vacuum: Sucks up decomposing matter from the pond bottom.
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Protective gloves: Ensure hands stay dry and avoid irritating plant saps.
Investing in a quality set of aquatic plant pruners keeps blades sharp for clean cuts. It also minimizes injury risk working around water.
Problems Signaling Time to Prune
With their rapid growth habit, water lilies sometimes need more frequent pruning. Watch for these clues it’s time to grab the pruners:
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Excessive spread: Plants are multiplying and crowding the pond.
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Leaf discoloration: Foliage is yellowing or browning.
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Flower decrease: Blooms are smaller and fewer.
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Leggy growth: Leaves are spaced far apart on stems.
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Pest damage: Leaves have insect holes or spots.
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Dead leaves: Significant leaf loss and collapse observed.
Any of these issues indicates the water lily is struggling and needs pruning for revitalization. Target the obviously damaged and dying leaves first when pruning.
Alternatives to Pruning Water Lilies
While pruning is the primary maintenance required for water lilies, other tactics can supplement pruning:
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Divide crowded plants: Split mature lilies to reduce their size.
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Transplant extras: Move and give away extra plantlets.
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Use aquatic plant barriers: Plastic rings contain water lilies in one area.
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Reposition foliage: Shift leaves to balance sunlight exposure.
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Add water flow: Fountains and pumps prevent surface plants.
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Introduce shade plants: Floating plants help limit light saturation.
In conjunction with regular pruning, these alternatives help restrain water lily spread and promote healthy growth.
Special Considerations for Container Water Lilies
Water lilies grown in containers require a slightly different pruning approach. Follow these tips:
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Prune more often to restrict size and prevent crowding.
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Prune anytime once plants are established, but not during bloom.
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Remove older outside leaves and trim roots annually.
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Keep only 2-4 leaves at a time to maintain appropriate size.
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Repot in a larger container if pruning isn’t keeping water lily contained.
Frequent, minimal pruning is key for container water lilies. Their limited root space means pruning is extra important for plant health and reducing demands on the container system.
Pruning is Crucial for Water Lily Health
From promoting new growth to improving blooms, pruning provides a wide range of benefits for water lilies. While it may seem counterintuitive to remove leaves from these aquatic plants, it’s a simple practice that pays off. With the right technique and a bit of routine pruning care, your water lilies will continue thriving season after season in your backyard pond or container water feature.
How and what to buy
Waterlilies are mainly available from specialist aquatic plant nurseries and online suppliers. They may be sold as
These have been lifted from the ground while dormant, with little or no soil around their roots. Various plants may be available bare root, including fruit trees, hedging plants and some perennials. They are generally cheaper than plants in containers, but are only available in winter/early spring, while dormant.
In plants, dormancy is a time when they don’t do anything. During this time, they slow down or stop growing to save energy and resources. This is a natural process that helps them survive harsh conditions, such as winter or drought. Dormancy in seeds is a mechanism that prevents them germinating until environmental conditions are favourable for growth.
Can mean either garden compost made at home or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from plant waste that has broken down, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used to grow seedlings or plants in pots. You can buy a variety of peat-free composts that are made from a mix of different materials, like loam, composted bark, coir, and sand, or you can make your own.
Create a wildlife-friendly pond
How to choose healthy plants
- Waterlilies like calm, still water that is away from fountains, pumps, cascades, and other things that stir up the water.
- Plant in full sun to promote flowering.
- The best way to plant them is in an aquatic basket with heavy clay-based loam or aquatic compost.
- Pick a cultivar that fits the shape and depth of your pond; read plant tags and descriptions before you buy.
- Try to get the leaves to cover no more than half of the pond’s surface.
Most waterlilies are hardy, but tender tropical waterlilies are also available. In order to grow, the water must be at least 21˚C (70˚F) during the growing season and 10˚C (50˚F) in the winter. Because of this, they do best in a pool in a warm greenhouse or conservatory.
Dwarf/small cultivars reach 30–60cm (1–2ft) wide, and need water 30–45cm (12–18in) deep. Medium cultivars reach 60–120cm (2–4ft) wide, and need water 45–75cm (18–30in) deep. Large cultivars reach up to 2. 4m (8ft) wide, and need water 75–120cm (30in–4ft) deep.
From late spring to late summer.
Waterlilies should be put in an aquatic basket with mesh sides that has been filled with heavy clay-based loam or aquatic compost. The basket keeps the roots from spreading out too far and makes taking care of the plant easier because it’s not too hard to remove. A 5–10-liter basket is best for most waterlilies, but a 2-liter basket should work for a dwarf plant.
To plant a waterlily:
- Put hessian around the outside of the basket and fill it with wet compost or sandy soil.
- Cut off any long roots and leaves that are damaged or old.
- Place the plant so that the crown is on top of the compost, and press it down firmly. Spread out some clean pea shingles on top of the compost to keep it in place. Water thoroughly.
- Carefully put the basket into the pond so that 15–25 cm (6–10 in) of water covers the crown. The young leaves should float on top of the water. You may need to stand it on bricks initially.
- Lower the basket slowly until it reaches the bottom of the pond as the plant grows.
Tropical waterlilies can be planted at their permanent depth immediately as they grow quickly. For more details, see our guide to planting aquatics. Ongoing care.
Waterlilies are vigorous, hungry plants. To promote strong growth and flowering, add slow-release aquatic feed every spring. This comes in tablet form that should be pushed into the compost to feed the plant instead of the water. You can also add these aquatic feed tablets at planting time and when dividing or re-potting plants.
Flower petals should be taken off as soon as possible when they start to fade so they don’t fall into the water and rot. If you can reach them safely, cut off spent flowers as low down on the stem as possible. See our guide to pond care.
Hardy waterlilies need no protection in winter. In late fall, the leaves will fall off. To keep them from breaking down in the water, they should be cut off as low as possible and fished out. The plant will stay dormant over winter, then start into growth once the water temperature rises. Leaves usually appear on the surface by mid-spring, depending on your local conditions. Tropical waterlilies need a water temperature of at least 10˚C (50˚F) over winter. You could also take them out of the water, cut off the dying leaves, and store the tubers in damp sand at least 10˚C (50˚F).
Choosing the right waterlily
With flowers of many colors, there are many types of waterlilies to choose from. They look beautiful in both formal and informal ponds. They look nice and are good for the environment because they give pond animals a place to live and keep algae away. A key factor when choosing a waterlily is the size and depth of your pond. Many waterlilies are very strong and can cover a lot of ground, but there are varieties that are good for all sized ponds. Even if you don’t have a pond, you can still grow a dwarf waterlily in a big pot with water that is at least 30 cm (1 foot) deep. Hardy waterlilies are easy to grow outdoors all year round. Tropical waterlilies can be more tricky, as they need warm water and frost-free conditions in winter. To find out about the various species and cultivars, go to RHS Plant Finder. Search for Nymphaea and you can browse the photographs and descriptions, and find out where to buy them. For more inspiration and tips, see our guide to pond plants.
Proper Water Lily Trimming
FAQ
When should I cut back water lilies?
What do you do with overgrown water lilies?
What do you do with water lilies in the winter?
How do you keep water lilies blooming?
Do water lily leaves need to be cut back?
Therefore, in the fall the leaves should be cleaned up and cut back. The water lily will need to be at least 24-30″ below the water in order for it to survive in cold freezing temperatures. If the pond or water feature is not deep enough, remove the entire water lily from the pond.
Should you cut back water lilies before winter?
If you have fish, cut back water lilies and other pond plants before winter. This helps minimize organic waste and helps preserve good water quality. If you have a wildlife pond, you can leave your plants to die back naturally. The decaying plants provide important habitat for wildlife in winter and are part of the natural ecosystem.
Do water lilies die back in winter?
Water lilies and other submerged plants die back in winter. If you have fish, it is a good idea to cut them right back to just above the rhizomes. This reduces the amount of decaying matter in your pond and improves water quality.
Do water lilies go dormant?
The large leaves of water lilies provide shade for fish and other aquatic animals in your pond. Hardy water lilies go dormant during the winter months. Therefore, in the fall the leaves should be cleaned up and cut back. The water lily will need to be at least 24-30″ below the water in order for it to survive in cold freezing temperatures.
When should lilies be cut down?
Lilies should be cut down in late summer or early fall, after the blooms have faded and before the first frost. This will give the plant time to regrow and prepare for winter. With proper care, lilies will come back year after year, bringing beauty to your garden for many years to come.
What happens if you cut back a lily?
After trimming back, the rest of the lilies will continue to be vigorous. It will focus the energy on the plant and the leaves. So this allows the plant to grow up again and have a nice shoot. They will blossom again later in summer. By cutting back your lily in this way, you will have a longer growth cycle.