Non
Blooming Lilac Bush
I have loved lilac's for my entire life (I am 41
yrs old). My husband
and children bought
me a lilac bush for
Mother's Day a few
years ago. My
husband twice had
drastically cut it,
to keep it from
getting to big. This
past year I didn't
get any blooms. I
also noticed a white
powdery type
substance on the
branches. Could you
please tell me how
to prune it properly
and could you tell
me what might be on
it.
Sincerely,
Gail Clinton, Ma
Answer: Your
lilacs probably have
powdery mildew, a
common ailment in
lilacs. Fortunately,
the fungus, though
unsightly, rarely
causes any permanent
damage. You can try
thinning your plant
lightly, pruning out
some of the
centermost branches,
to increase
air circulation. If
you really want to
get rid of the
fungus, you can try
dusting the plant
with fine sulfur (a
fungicide available
at garden centers)
-- follow directions
and precautions on
the package.
Enhancing
Lilac Colors
Q: I have tried multiple times to get a dark purple lilac bush. I now have 5 lilac bushes that are NOT dark purple. Two were from greenhouses. I have 2 white, 2 purple & 1 purple & white, but none DARK purple. Is there any way to enhance the color of the lilac? Thanks, running out of yard.
Nannette
A: Lilacs prefer growing in alkaline soils, so your first step should be having your soil tested. If it's neutral or acidic, you may want to raise the pH by adding lime to your soil. Lime takes some time to break down and mellow the soil, so an application this fall may not affect next spring's bloom, but by raising the pH, your lilacs will eventually develop their true color.
Non
Flowering Lilac Bush
Q:
I have two lilac bushes that have never had flowers. One I've had for ten years the other five.
Barbara from Ohio
A: The most common reason that lilacs don't bloom is a lack of sunlight, they need full sun (at least 6 hours a day) to flower well. Without sun, all you get are leaves! A good hefty addition of organic matter (compost, composted cow manure, leaf mould) would serve her well. You can also try a fertilizer such as 5-10-10. Preferably, the extended release type made especially for shrubs (I like the brand "Once"). There is also an outside chance that this type of lilac isn't the right type for your area. You could contact a local nursery to check if you have a good variety, and/or check with the nursery or mail order source where you bought the shrub. It is also a possibility that you have purchased a variety that takes along time to bloom so patience is in order. If you are really desperate, try root pruning the shrub. Next late summer, dig one shovel's depth deep around the drip line of the plant. This will sever some roots and maybe shock the plant into setting flower buds.
Lilacs
In Utah
Q: I live
in Utah and my question
about lilac's is: I really
like lilac's
and I have this area on
the North side of my house
that has nothing there. Is
there a specific type of
lilac bush that would grow
great there? It gets
little sun. I read
somewhere that certain
dwarf lilac's do ok there.
I was wondering if there
were any type's like the
Jesse's lilac (ones that
can grow all summer long)?
Thanks Cami
Answer: Lilacs were
planted by some of Utah's
early settlers, not just
for their beauty but also
because of their ability
to survive and adapt to
most climates. The shrub's
hardiness is evident at
old vacant homes. Even
when ignored for several
years, they continue to
survive and bloom. Lilacs
do best in neutral to
alkaline soil.
.Lilacs need a sunny
location with a minimum of
eight hours of sunlight
per day. They can grow in
more shady locations but
the bloom production
decreases. They like a
well-drained soil but can
adapt to most soils if not
over-watered.
Common Lilac (Syringa
vulgaris): Almost everyone
recognizes the fragrant
spring flowers that lilacs
produce. Common Lilac has
been planted for
generations. Lilac flowers
come in a multitude of
colors and last for long
periods of time when used
in floral displays. Plant
in full sun to part shade.
(10'Hx11'W) Zones 3-7
Dwarf Korean Lilac (Syringa
meyeri 'palabin'): Dwarf
Korean Lilac has fragrant
lavender colored flowers
in the spring and works
well in areas where space
is limited due to its
small size. This is an
uncommon lilac worth
having in the home
landscape. Plant in full
sun to part shade.
(4'Hx4'W) Zones 3-7
Miss Kim Lilac (Syringa
patula 'Miss Kim'): Miss
Kim Lilac is another lilac
that works well where
space is at a premium. It
has fragrant violet
colored flowers and is
slightly larger than Dwarf
Korean Lilac. It prefers
to be planted in full sun
but tolerates some shade.
(5'Hx5'W) Zones 3-7
Question: I am having the hardest time understanding why my
lilac bushes never make flowers. I have lived here in Southwest Colorado for 10 years, with the same bushes...I have at least 5, and they never blossom or make those wonderful
fragrant
flowers. We have clay soil and they seem to be quite hearty, but still no odiferous flowers.
Heather
Colorado
Answer: Never-flowering-lilacs could be a problem. Typically, lilacs set their
flower buds in late July or early August for the following spring's bloom. If they have never flowered it could be they are in too much shade or getting too much nitrogen fertilization for flower bud setting. Try cutting some of the roots with a sharp edged spade in four or five places around the plant; avoid lawn fertilizers around the root zone and don't prune. Such trauma will often initiate the setting of flower buds for show the following year.
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