Volume
12 2006
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.
Due to
overwhelming response we
are in the process of categorizing
and reordering our Gardening
Ask the expert questions
and answers. In the
meantime your questions
and the archive of garden
questions can be found at
the link below
