Water them well and protect the roots and crowns with a layer of loose organic mulch. Q. My Asiatic lilies are several years old. They're getting spindly and don't bloom well anymore. Your lily bulbs could be diseased, but more likely they're just crowded. Lift and separate the bulbs in early fall, replanting them about 6 inches apart in fertile well-drained soil.
Lily bulbs are relatively short-lived in heavy clay soil.
If that's what you have, you may have to start with new bulbs and count on replacing them every few years. Q. I'd like to grow a Franklinia tree from seed. A. Franklinia is a good choice, because it's a true species, neither a hybrid nor a cultivar. Gather seeds late in the season and remove the outer husk. Rub the seeds clean and dry them for a couple of days.