Question
What do you do with the calla lillies that are planted outdoors during the summer?  This spring, I had the most beautiful calla lillies.  Now that summer is here and we have had 100 degree weather, the stems have drooped and turned brown and look a mess.  My husband wants to pull them up but I think that will damage them for next spring.  Neither of us has a green thumb and want the planter in front of the house to look nice during the other seasons of the year.  Can anything else be put there when the lillies are not in bloom?

Answer
Yes, nature sure is working the foliage over right about now!  However, if you want a spectacular show for next year, it's important to leave the tubers in for now.  This is the time of year when tubers grow and strengthen for the next blooming season.  Any leaves that are brown or yellow can be trimmed off at the bottom.  However, continue to water the pots.  Hopefully, you will continue to have some foliage grow.  The tubers depend on this foliage for their energy.

I wouldn't really recommend planting anything over the top of them.  This may choke out the foliage that the tubers need to continue their growth.  And it will also make digging the tubers up more difficult.

Assuming you don't live in a tropical climate, tubers should be dug up after the first frost.  Any remaining foliage can be trimmed off.  Allow the tubers to air dry for several days.  This will prevent them from growing moldy in storage.  Once they're dry, put them in a dark, cool, dry area for the winter.  They need to be left dormant for a minimum of two months.  Then they can be repotted in the spring.