When To Transplant A Lilac Bush

If you are wondering when to transplant lilacs, you have two choices: autumn or spring. Most experts recommend that you act in spring. The optimal time is after the plants bloom but before summer’s heat arrives in force.

Are lilacs easy to transplant?

Lilac shoots are exceptionally easy to transplant. I have transplanted many lilac bushes from the original bushes that my grandmother planted on our Wisconsin dairy farm 70 years ago. Early spring until late spring, from when the lilacs develop buds until they actually have small leaves, is the best time to transplant.

Where is the best place to plant a lilac bush?

Where to Plant Lilacs. 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.

Where should you not plant lilac bushes?

Lilacs grow best in full sun, so avoid planting them where they will be shaded for more than half a day. Be sure to plant them with enough space for future growth. Read the plant label to get the height and spread of the mature plant. To thrive, lilacs need good drainage.

What is the best time of year to transplant a lilac bush?

When can you safely transplant a lilac bush?

Spring is the best time to transplant Lilacs. They do not transplant well in hot, dry weather. Transplant them after the blooming period, and before hot summer weather arrives. It is also important to note that transplanting can affect the next spring bloom.

Can you cut a branch off a lilac bush and plant it?

Growing Lilac from Cuttings Take cuttings of lilac bushes from tender new growth in late spring or early summer. Mature growth is less likely to root. Dip the bottom of the cutting in rooting hormone and plant it in the hole, then pat the potting mix lightly around the base of the cutting so it stands up straight.

How deep are lilac roots?

You can generally expect shrubs and trees to develop roots that extend out about one and one-half times the length of the branches. Lilac roots are not considered invasive, but a shrub that’s 10′ wide will probably have roots extending out about 15′ in all directions.

How close to a house can you plant a lilac?

Root System on Lilac Lilac roots generally spread one and one-half times the width of the shrub. A distance of 12 feet (4 m.) from the foundation is generally enough to prevent foundation damage.

Do lilac bushes spread?

Lilac bushes will typically flower without any effort from you. However, if left to grow and spread on their own, common lilacs will eventually only flower on the tops of the uppermost branches.

Are coffee grounds good for lilac bushes?

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. Adding bone meal to the soil can make it more alkaline.

What should I plant next to lilac?

You’ll find many attractive spring bulbs to fill up the area near your lilac bush as lilac companion plants. Bulb plants like daffodils, tulips, grape hyacinth and peonies multiply and naturalize. Plant enough of them and you’ll never weed in the area again.

Do lilac bushes attract bees?

Lilac Attraction With brilliant purple and bluish petals, lilacs attract numerous bees, especially since the flowers grow in dense clusters. As a result, bees can stay on the blossoms for even more nectar nourishment without having to fly constantly to other plants.

Why are my lilac bushes dying?

A dying lilac bush may appear weak or yield only a few spring blooms. This is commonly caused by overgrowth and poor plant nutrition, which may be remedied with heavy pruning and steps to ensure the soil contains vital nutrients.

Do lilacs need full sun?

Planting Lilacs 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.

Can lilacs get too much water?

Too much water can result in wilted, pale, or yellowing leaves. Established shrubs can tolerate short periods of drought like conditions without damage. Longer periods of dry conditions can cause the leaves and the stems of the lilac to wilt.

When should lilac bushes be trimmed?

When To Prune 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.

How do I prune an overgrown lilac bush?

First, remove any dead, spindly, dying or diseased wood. Cut out about a third of the oldest, tallest branches at the base. Then prune back the rest of the branches by a foot or more. Repeat the same thing over the next couple of years.

How much can you prune a lilac bush?

Pruning lilac shrubs A good rule of thumb when pruning lilacs is not to prune more than one third of a shrub’s stems per year.

Can a lilac branch be rooted?

Rooting Lilacs from cuttings is an easy way to propagate this sweet smelling Spring favorite. Taking cuttings is an age old method of getting more plants from established ones to pass on or keep to expand your own garden. Rooting lilacs from cuttings is a great way to get more of these beautiful bushes.

How long do lilac cuttings take to root?

Allow Lilac Cuttings Time to Root It will take at least one month to six weeks before the roots are ready. When the plant is established and strong enough to remove the plastic, place the pot in a sunny spot. The soil can be allowed to dry out between waterings at this point.

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.