LILACS - How to Encourage Profuse Blooms

Lilac { Syringa Oleaceae } @ 75 Years Old

Yes...this  particular  Fragrant  Lilac  Bush  has  been  living 
at  this  location  for  about  75  years !

It  was  proudly  planted  by

Alice Jean Arden Hodge
{ July 23 rd., 1914  -  March  1 st., 2012 }

who  was  the  only  woman  from  the  NYC  area
to  be  in  the  1936  Summer  Olympics.
She  placed  NINTH  in  the  High  Jump  Event
and  never  competed  again.

You  can  read  more  about  her  by  clicking  on  her  name.

Lilacs  symbolize 
LOVE
and  are  a  member  of  the 
OLIVE  TREE  Family.
They  have  been  known  to  live  for  hundreds  of  years,
under  ideal  conditions  and  proper  care.

While some varieties only grow 4 feet, others can reach up to 30 feet tall.
Pruning a Lilac properly is essential and needs to be addressed 
EVERY  YEAR
to achieve a perfect shape and to increase flowers.

ALWAYS  TRIM  BACK  THE  BUSH  IMMEDIATELY  AFTER  THEY  HAVE  FINISHED  BLOOMING !
CAREFULLY  REMOVE  SPENT  BLOOMS  AT  THEIR  BASE  WITH  CLIPPERS
NEVER  USE  HEDGE  TRIMMERS

Removing  the  flowers   will  prevent  the  Lilac  from  producing  seed
and  encourage  it  to  create  next  year's  buds,
which  happens  VERY  soon  after
this  year's  flowers  are  spent !
!!!  SO  DON'T   WAIT   TO  DO  THIS  TASK  !!!

Lilac Bushes  desperately  need  and  love
AIR  CIRCULATION.

NEVER  allow  them  to  grow  densely  in  the  middle.
Trim  stems  away  from  the  center
to  increase  ventilation.

CUT  AWAY  shoots  that  are  at  ground  level
and  those  that  appear  out  of  the  trunk.

Trim away any branches that are not appealing to you...

BUTT, 

AS  YOU  CUT  AWAY

KEEP  IN  MIND

that  it  takes  3  to  4  years
for  a  new  branch  or  shoot  to  flower !

Therefore,  leave  a  few  strong  and  healthy  stalks
in  strategic  places  as  you  will  surely  have  to
trim  back  old  wood  in  the  future.

Lilacs  look  best  when  their  tops  are  rounded.
Please  don't  give  it  a  crew  cut  on  top.

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Renewing  an  old  overgrown  Lilac 
can  be  done  in  one  of  two  ways.

In  March  or  early  April,
severely  cut  the  entire  plant  down  to
one  foot  off  the  ground.
Don't worry...this won't kill it.
It  will, however, induce  the  Lilac  to  produce 
many  new  shoots  during  the  growing  season.
Of course,  you won't have blooms 
for 3  to  4  years.
But  you  will  have  the  ability  to 
create  a  new  framework. 
The  following  March, choose  which  branches  are 
to remain  and  cut away  the rest.
Cut  the tips of the remaining stalks to
encourage branching out.


A second way to rejuvenate old Lilac Bushes is
to  cut  back  the  overgrown  shrubs
over  the  course  of  several  years.

Remove  one  third  of  the  large  old  stems.

The  following  year, prune  out  one  half  of
remaining  old  stems.
Thin  out  some  of  the  new  growth.
Keep  several  well  spaced  stems.

At  the  third year, remove remaining old wood and  keep  any  new  shoots  that  look  like  they  might  be good  for  the  future.  This  method  should  allow  you  to  enjoy  flowers  every  spring
and  provide  a  smoother  transition.

Pruning  Lilacs  should  become  an  annual  event  to  keep  them  healthy, 
vigorous  and  blooming  profusely  for  several  hundred  years  to  come !

... well... at  least  YOUR  lifetime... if  you  care.

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