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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.
Can you plant a lilac bush next to a house?
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.
How quickly do lilac bushes grow?
Fragrant LilacSyringa vulgaris. 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.
What should I plant next to my lilac bush?
Additional Lilac Bush Companions Mock orange. Flowering crabapples. Dogwoods. Flowering cherries. Magnolias.
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 plant a lilac bush?
You should plant your new tree or shrub in the spring or fall. Lilacs prefer soils whose pH is neutral or slightly alkaline. Fertilize using a fertilizer that is rich in phosphorus and potassium in early spring. It is recommended to prune your plant right after it has finished flowering.
What is the difference between a lilac bush and a lilac tree?
To clear up any confusion, there is no difference between a lilac bush and a lilac tree, they are the same plant just called by different names. Some lilacs flower two weeks earlier, including Syringa x hyacinthiflora varieties and these are often referred to as early flowering lilacs.
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.
Should I cover my lilac bush?
Lilacs withstand a chilly winter better than most plants. This occurs in late winter to early spring when buds are beginning to break and a harsh freeze comes along. Use a blanket, canvas, or even plastic tent over the bush to help protect the buds form the cold.
Do lilac bushes spread?
Most flowering shrubs need regular pruning to keep them vibrant, and the common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is no exception. 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.
Is Miracle Gro good for lilacs?
Plant lilacs in full sun in moist, well-drained soil. Feed lilacs in spring with Miracle-Gro® Shake ‘n Feed® Flowering Trees & Shrubs Plant Food.
Do lilacs bloom all summer?
Do lilac trees bloom more than once a year? Most do not, but the Bloomerang lilac tree blooms in spring, takes a pause in early summer, then blooms again from summer all the way to the first frost of the year.
Are lilacs poisonous to dogs?
Are Lilacs Poisonous to Dogs? Lilacs do not contain any chemicals that will poison animals or humans, nor do they irritate the skin. According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, the Persian lilac (Melia azedarach) which is not related to true lilac, is poisonous to dogs.
What month do lilacs bloom?
Lilacs will grow in spots with less sun but they won’t bloom as well. Speaking of blooms, if you’ve done everything else right then you can expect to see plenty of flowers blooming in mid-Spring, although other varieties bloom at different times.
How do you rejuvenate a lilac bush?
One way to renew a large, overgrown lilac is to cut the entire plant back to within 6 to 8 inches of the ground in late winter (March or early April). This severe pruning will induce a large number of shoots to develop during the growing season.
What is the difference between lilac and lavender?
The main difference between lavender and lilac (colors) is that the lavender is a pale purple with a bluish tinge while the lilac is as a pale purple with a pinkish tinge. Lavender and lilac are two shades of purple and violet. In fact, both these shades have been named after the color of the flowers.
Should you Deadhead lilacs?
Deadheading – removing spent flowers to promote new blooming – is an important component of caring for lilacs. You should deadhead lilacs as soon as they are done blooming, which will allow the plants to develop strong, healthy buds that will flower with vigor the following year.
Do lilac bushes stay green all year?
California Lilac Information Some are upright bushes reaching 8 or 9 feet (2 to 2.5 m.) in height while others are compact, low growing groundcovers that seldom reach more than 6 inches (15 cm.) in height. Plants are evergreen and have small to medium glossy green leaves which accent the bright to light blue flowers.
Do lilacs need full sun?
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.
Do lilacs need a lot of water?
Lilacs respond best to deep, infrequent watering. Make sure that your planting area or container drains well. These plants do not like wet feet and will not bloom if over watered. Too much water can diminish the oxygen in the soil by filling in air pockets with water, which chokes the roots of the lilac.
What is the difference between a butterfly bush and a lilac bush?
Butterfly bushes are deciduous shrubs, while the deciduous lilacs are in both shrub and tree form. Lilacs have greater cold hardiness than butterfly bushes. As a rule, the lilacs bloom in the middle of spring, while butterfly bushes flower in summer with some blooming until first frost.
Can you turn a lilac bush into a tree?
Flowering shrubs you can turn into trees include lilac, panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata), flowering quince and spring blooming star magnolia (Magnolia stellata). It’s not impossible to train these shrubs into small trees; it just might take a little more effort.
