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Growing Lilac Tips
- Not all lilacs are lilac-colored; they can also be white, blue, pink or yellow.
- If your lilac doesn't flower, it either needs more sun or needs pruning.
- Lilacs will not grow in soggy soil.
- Lilacs need at least six hours of sunlight.
- Most lilacs like USDA Hardiness Zones 3-7, but some can grow in warmer or colder areas.
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Introduction
- Lilacs originated in Asia and Europe, and have been cultivated for over 300 years.Montana State University: Growing Lilacs in Montana However, lilacs are most famous for their flowers, which they produce every spring in abundant quantities. If you have ever wanted to grow your own lilacs, then there is no time like the present. Even someone with a black thumb will find lilacs an easy plant to care for.
Step 1: Choose a Type of Lilac
- All lilacs belong to the genus Syringa, but that does not mean they are all the same. The characteristics of different lilac species make them more suited for different areas. For example, most varieties of lilacs will not do well in warmer climates such as USDA Hardiness Zones 8 or 9, located in the southeastern United States.USNA: USNA - USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: South-Midwest US You also want to consider how large you want your lilacs to get. Some varieties stay as small as 4 feet, while others grow close to 30 feet. Selecting the right species of lilac is important if you want to have lilacs with fewer problems and minimal fuss.
Syringa vulgaris – Common Lilac
- Has the longest midseason blooming time.Martha Stewart: Lilacs
- Very hardy and drought resistant but more susceptible to disease and pests.Montana State University: Growing Lilacs in Montana
- Slow growing.University of New Hampshire: Growing Lilacs (May 9, 2000)
Syringa meyeri – Meyer Lilac
- Begins flowering liberally when it is small.UConn Plant Database: Syringa meyeri
- Maintenance and trouble free; mildew resistant; Requires little pruning.Michigan State University Extension: Syringa meyeri--Meyer Lilac OSU Pocket Gardner: Syringa meyeri
- Cultivar 'Palibin' (Palbin Meyer or Korean dwarf) can be grown in Zone 8 and parts of Zone 9.Garden Ideas: Lilac Time
Syringa pekinensis – Pekin Lilac or Chinese Tree Lilac
- A tree lilac that has a vigorous growth and peeling bark.Michigan State University Extension: Syringa pekinensis--Pekin Lilac
- Very late blooming.The International Lilac Site: Lilac Information page
- Does not flower for years after planting.Montana State University: Growing Lilacs in Montana
- Drought tolerant.NC State University: Shrubs: Syringa pekinensis
S. vulgaris x S. chinensis – Chinese Lilac or Rouen Lilac
- Capable of being grown in Zone 8 and parts of Zone 9.Garden Ideas: Lilac Time
- Blooms mid to late season.Montana State University: Growing Lilacs in Montana
- Grows faster than common lilac.University of New Hampshire: [
- http://extension.unh.edu/resources/re... Growing Lilacs] (May 9, 2000) </ref>
- Has few disease or insect problems.Kemplar Center for Home Gardening: Syringa x chinensis 'Lilac Sunday'
S. vulgaris x S. prestoniae – Preston Lilac
- Grows in Zone 2.Garden Ideas: Lilac Time
- Late blooming.University of New Hampshire: Growing Lilacs (May 9, 2000)
- Very hardy.Utah State University: Growing Lilacs
- YouTube: Hulda Klager Lilac Festival (Time: 3:57)
Step 2: Planting Lilacs
- Once you have choose a type of lilac, you will need to purchase a few for your garden. In general, you will want to choose nursery-grown plants that are 2 to 4 feet tall.Utah State University: Growing Lilacs
When to Plant
- Lilacs can be planted in the spring or fall. It is usually better to plant lilacs in the fall after the leaves have dropped. This will give the roots a chance to establish themselves before the leaves appear. You can also plant lilacs in the spring before the buds start to unfold.Utah State University: Growing Lilacs
Location
- Lilacs can be grown in most settings, but there are some areas that are better than others.Utah State University: Growing Lilacs Here is a list of the ideal conditions for most lilacs:
- Sun: Lilacs need at least 6 hours of full sun a day.HGTV: Selecting, Planting, Pruning and Propagating Lilacs More sun is better than less since too little sun can cause the lilac not to flower.The International Lilac Site: Lilac Information page
- Air Circulation: Good air circulation is necessary to reduce chances of any fungal disease.Martha Stewart: Lilacs
- Space: Lilacs need at least 6 feet between plants for a hedge, 10 to 15 feet for a shrub.University of New Hampshire: Growing Lilacs (May 9, 2000)
- Drainage: Lilacs need good drainage. Soggy soil causes the roots to rot and will eventually kill the plant.The International Lilac Site: Lilac Information page
- pH level: The ideal pH level for lilacs is 6.5 to 7.0.University of New Hampshire: Growing Lilacs (May 9, 2000)
How to Plant
- Dig a hole. The hole should be slightly deeper than the pot and large enough to fit the roots without bending or breaking them.HGTV: Selecting, Planting, Pruning and Propagating Lilacs Utah State University: Growing Lilacs
- Remove the lilac from the pot and score the roots. For bare root lilacs, soak the roots in a bucket of water.HGTV: Selecting, Planting, Pruning and Propagating Lilacs Fox Hill Lilac Nursery: How to Properly Plant your Lilac
- Work a bucket of peat moss and a cup of 5-10-5 fertilizer into the soil. You can use cow manure as an alternative fertilizer.Utah State University: Growing Lilacs
- Set the plant so that it is 2 to 3 inches deeper in the hole than it was at the nursery.Utah State University: Growing Lilacs
- Fill in the hole and water the lilac thoroughly.HGTV: Selecting, Planting, Pruning and Propagating Lilacs
- Add a 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch around the lilac to help protect the roots, control weeds and conserve moisture.University of New Hampshire: Growing Lilacs (May 9, 2000)
Step 3: Watering and Fertilizing Lilacs
- In general, lilacs are easy to care for and require very little maintenance.
- You will only need to water your lilacs while they are young or during severe droughts.Martha Stewart: Lilacs Most lilacs are drought-resistant.HGTV: Selecting, Planting, Pruning and Propagating Lilacs : Home & Garden Television
- If your lilac is growing vigorously, it does not need fertilizing. Otherwise, you can add about 1/2 pound of 5-10-10 fertilizer per 25 square feet of soil in the early spring or mid-fall.University of New Hampshire: Growing Lilacs (May 9, 2000)
Step 4: Pruning and Rejuvenating Lilacs
- Lilacs will not require pruning for the first five years after they are planted or once they reach 6 to 8 feet high.Montana State University: Growing Lilacs in Montana At that point, they will need to be properly pruned or they will become overgrown and may eventually stop flowering.Martha Stewart: Lilacs If that has already happened to your lilac, then you will need to rejuvenate it, which is a more severe form of pruning.
Pruning
- You need to prune your lilac so that it is has approximately seven to twelve stems of different ages and thickness that don't cross each other.Montana State University: Growing Lilacs in Montana
- As soon as the flowers fade, deadhead the lilacs.Martha Stewart: Lilacs This will prevent seedpods from growing, which require a lot of energy and can cause the lilac to flower poorly the following year.Plant Palette: Lilacs (April 20, 2008)
- You should prune immediately after the lilac stops flowering.Plant Palette: Lilacs (April 20, 2008)
- You will want to remove:
- Prune branches just above a bud.Martha Stewart: Lilacs
- You may need to thin out top growth to increase the amount of sunlight that reaches the buds at the center of the plant.University of New Hampshire: Growing Lilacs (May 9, 2000)
- If your lilac has become too tall, try cutting one or two of the older limbs at ground level with a saw.HGTV: Selecting, Planting, Pruning and Propagating Lilacs : Home & Garden Television
Step 5: Dealing with Pests and Disease
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'''Oystershell Scale:''' If the branches of your lilac look like they have small oyster shells stuck on them, your plant has been infested with parasitic [[Insects|insects]].University of New Hampshire: Growing Lilacs Prune out a
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'''Bacterial Blight:''' Bacterial blight is a disease that often occurs when the spring temperatures fluctuate and occur with cold rains. Blotches will appear on the leaves before they turn brown and wilt. Prune out all branches that are affected immediat
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'''Lilac Borer:''' Lilac borers are moths that burrow into the branches of the lilac to lay their [[Eggs|eggs]]. They are very common east of the Rocky Mountains and on stressed plants.Montana State University: Growing Lilacs in Montan
Rejuvenating Lilacs
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If your [[Lilacs|lilac]] has stopped flowering or is overgrown, it needs rejuvenating. Rejuvination is a three year process that involves removing one-third of the branches each year down to the ground. This should be done in the late winter by removing t
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A second way to rejuvinate is to cut down the entire plant about 6 to 8 inches from the ground in March or early April. The following year, select several strong shoots as the framework of your shrub and remove all the other shoots at ground level. Then,
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