Table of Contents
The best time to plant lilacs is in late fall before the ground freezes. The next best time to plant is in early spring after the ground thaws.
Is there a difference between a lilac tree and a lilac bush?
Shrub lilacs and bush lilacs are short and compact. Tree lilacs can grow up to 25 feet (7.6 m.) high and have a tree-like appearance, but their many stems tend to get them classified as bushes. They are not technically trees, but they get big enough that you can treat them as if they are.
How do you plant lilac bushes?
The planting hole should be deep and wide enough to accommodate the plant’s root system. Place the top of the root ball level with the surface of the hole. If the lilac is bareroot, the top layer of roots should be a few inches below the surface. When filling in with soil, it is important to water thoroughly.
How fast do lilac bushes grow?
The lilac is a deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub with an irregular, rounded outline. It is fast growing when young, but slows to about one foot a year with age.
How long does it take for a lilac bush to grow big?
Age: Lilac plants need time to grow before they begin flowering. So, if you have a very young plant, it may not be mature enough to bloom. Most plants start blooming after three or four years but some may take as long as six or seven. The blooms for the first few years will be sparse but should increase with time.
Where is the best place to plant a lilac bush?
The ideal spot to plant lilacs is in an area with full sun (at least 6 to 8 hours per day)—give them too much shade and they may not bloom. Lilacs also like slightly alkaline, moist, well-drained soil.
What is the most fragrant lilac bush?
The lilac usually considered the most fragrant is a Chinese native—S. pubescens. It has small, white flowers tinged with purple.
Can you plant a lilac bush next to a house?
Root System on Lilac Lilac roots aren’t considered invasive and as long as you leave enough space between the tree, or shrub, and the structure, there is little risk from planting lilacs near foundations. Lilac roots generally spread one and one-half times the width of the shrub. A distance of 12 feet (4 m.)Oct 17, 2020.
Are coffee grounds good for lilacs?
Fertilizing lilacs with a high phosphorus formula in early spring promotes blooming. Grass clippings and coffee grounds can be used as a good source of nitrogen. Use sparingly, as too much nitrogen in the soil will result in poor blooms. Lilacs grow best in slightly alkaline (6.5 to 7.0 pH), moist, well-drained soil.
What month do lilacs bloom?
Depending on where you live, and the lilac varieties you choose, lilacs can provide color and fragrance from April through June. By selecting carefully, it is possible to have two months of spring blooms, particularly if the weather is cool.
Is lilac poisonous to dogs?
Lilacs do not contain any chemicals that will poison animals or humans, nor do they irritate the skin. Even though lilac stems, leaves, and flowers pose no health threat to dogs, it is a good idea to keep your dog from chewing on the plant. Too much roughage may upset the digestive system in your pet.
Are lilacs good for privacy?
Lilac hedges, with their colorful, often fragrant blooms, provide privacy and beautify the landscape. Plant them as a screen, barrier, property line marker or garden room divider or backdrop.
How much space do you need for a lilac bush?
Here’s the first rule of planting: lilacs need lots of space to grow. If you’re planting a hedge, they’ll need a spot at least seven to eight feet wide and ten feet wide for a shrub. They also need at least six hours of sun a day to have excellent flowering. Provide a well-drained, alkaline soil.
Will lilac bloom first year?
Lilacs bloom on the previous year’s growth. The best time to prune lilacs is immediately after flowering in spring. Pruning lilacs in late summer, fall, or winter may remove many of their flower buds.
How do I care for a lilac bush?
Choose an area with plenty of afternoon sun and well-drained soil. Since lilacs prefer good drainage, planting lilac bushes in slightly elevated areas is recommended whenever possible. Following planting lilac bushes, water them thoroughly and add a layer of loose mulch.
What is the fastest growing lilac bush?
Chinese lilac (S. x chinensis) gets 20 feet tall, growing at a rate of 24 inches per year, and forms an oval or rounded shape. Plant this bush in a site with any type of slightly acidic to highly alkaline soil and that receives full sun to partial shade.
What do lilacs symbolize?
Lilacs symbolize spring and renewal, but they had other meanings in different cultures. White lilacs represent purity and innocence, while purple lilacs symbolize spirituality. Magenta lilacs symbolize love and passion.
Should lilac bushes be trimmed?
As a general rule for all lilacs, they should be pruned immediately after they’re done flowering in the spring. Since lilacs set next year’s flower buds right after the current year’s flowers have faded, pruning later in the summer or fall will result in cutting off many or all of next year’s flowers.
Can you plant lilac bushes in the summer?
The fragrant flowers are good for cutting and attractive to butterflies. Lilacs thrive in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil (at a pH near 7.0). Lilacs don’t like wet feet and will not bloom with too much water. Plant in either spring or fall, although the latter is preferred.
