Janet, I treat my lily foliage just like my peony foliage. Get rid of it in the fall and throw it into the garbage.
The rest of my perennials, I usually don't cut down until spring. I leave the foliage on to collect snow.

Shelley

I think on the Canadian prairies, botrytis is the main bad disease that can affect lilies. It does overwinter in the foliage, so once the stalks die down you are supposed to cut the above-ground parts to soil level and dispose of them. I have composted lily foliage in the past with no problems, but it really shouldn't be done.
-Don

Oops.... wish I'd seen this post before starting my compost pile. I think Daylily foliage was one of the first things in there! My lilies have been pretty healthy though, so fingers crossed, and I won't do that again...

Daylily (Hemerocallis) foliage is just fine to compost. It's true Lily (Lilium) foliage that is subject to disease.

Daylilies grow from roots that look like fat fingers. They are perennials that have their foliage grow up in arching clumps like wide-bladed grass from the ground.

True Lilies grow from bulbs, and they have their foliage grow as short little leaves sticking out horizontally all up the flower stalk.

Sharon

Thanks Sharon. When I think and talk about lilies I never even really think about daylilies. Have to watch myself I guess. To me lilies are only lilium. Do have some daylilies but never really think of them as lilies to worry about.

Inanda with lilium and iris seedlings all over my window sills.