Major Prune Job on Our Lilac!
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Date: 2022-07-16
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Comments and reviews: 9
leAnn
Thank you so much for the lilac video. I have a few questions regarding the lilac bush I've been trying to get blooms from for the 2 yrs ive owned my house. I cut it back last year, it came back pretty good however, my neighbors lilac spread its decease to min. I waited too long to address the problem, aphids were the first issue, then they got white moldy looking stuff on leaves, they were schribbling? Almost a wilting look with purplish brown spots on the leaves. It was sick. I found myself pulling off the sick leaves hoping that would alliw for new growth? Towards end of summer I used neem oil extract, Soaked entire plant (large) top & backs of leaves branches for 7 days but saw no improving. Was that due to plant being dormant? Anyway, I was going to just remove all sick branches and try once more but was hit with that freeze (Denver) last week, I went to AZ for one day thinking the temp drop wouldnt hit until Sunday, wrong, got home next evening, everything froze. think I saved my geraniums, everything else dead. Question, is there hope fir this lilac, Ive had 1 single flower in 2 years. Should I prune all the way down or wait till spring. (Sorry for length): /
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Thank you so much for the lilac video. I have a few questions regarding the lilac bush I've been trying to get blooms from for the 2 yrs ive owned my house. I cut it back last year, it came back pretty good however, my neighbors lilac spread its decease to min. I waited too long to address the problem, aphids were the first issue, then they got white moldy looking stuff on leaves, they were schribbling? Almost a wilting look with purplish brown spots on the leaves. It was sick. I found myself pulling off the sick leaves hoping that would alliw for new growth? Towards end of summer I used neem oil extract, Soaked entire plant (large) top & backs of leaves branches for 7 days but saw no improving. Was that due to plant being dormant? Anyway, I was going to just remove all sick branches and try once more but was hit with that freeze (Denver) last week, I went to AZ for one day thinking the temp drop wouldnt hit until Sunday, wrong, got home next evening, everything froze. think I saved my geraniums, everything else dead. Question, is there hope fir this lilac, Ive had 1 single flower in 2 years. Should I prune all the way down or wait till spring. (Sorry for length): /
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bluewater454
OMG. Your property is gorgeous.
Just tuned in to get some pointers on pruning my lilac. I am guessing it is about 20 years old, it has moss growing all over it and I have lost major trunks of it simply rotting and falling to the ground for the last three years, so I figured it was time for a pruning.
I think that someone tied the trunks together on your lilac because it may have had the same problem as mine with the trunks rotting and falling away. I was trying to figure a way to support them, but they keep falling away a little more every year. My biggest question was the time of year to prune, which you answered. Thanks for the video.
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OMG. Your property is gorgeous.
Just tuned in to get some pointers on pruning my lilac. I am guessing it is about 20 years old, it has moss growing all over it and I have lost major trunks of it simply rotting and falling to the ground for the last three years, so I figured it was time for a pruning.
I think that someone tied the trunks together on your lilac because it may have had the same problem as mine with the trunks rotting and falling away. I was trying to figure a way to support them, but they keep falling away a little more every year. My biggest question was the time of year to prune, which you answered. Thanks for the video.
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John
Life cycle on many lilacs are close to 150 years+ ( ie old prairie homestead bushes or in French chateaus) Remove old branches entirely and it will put up new shoots from small root fragments.
Hint should be easy to propogate. Rotate new stems in as you remove old ones, and keep the height down where you can see the blooms.
There are 100S of different named varietals with dramatically different forms from small shrubs suitable only for warm climate, tree format, and super cold hardy good to -40F.
The only things that can give them a terminal problem are an insect infestation, virus or poor soil rooting depth or high water table or shade.
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Life cycle on many lilacs are close to 150 years+ ( ie old prairie homestead bushes or in French chateaus) Remove old branches entirely and it will put up new shoots from small root fragments.
Hint should be easy to propogate. Rotate new stems in as you remove old ones, and keep the height down where you can see the blooms.
There are 100S of different named varietals with dramatically different forms from small shrubs suitable only for warm climate, tree format, and super cold hardy good to -40F.
The only things that can give them a terminal problem are an insect infestation, virus or poor soil rooting depth or high water table or shade.
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Deb
thank you thank you thank you! I just moved into my new home and I have two out of control Lilacs that I want to prune back. I have now watched 8 videos on how to do this. and they ALL say to basically cut it all the way back and leave some straggly growth to regrow. It's such a beautiful plant! The thought of hacking it all up horrified me! FINALLY I found yours and you are encouraging the shape and beauty while cleaning it up. Now I cant wait to put on some gloves, grab my pruners and go at it! YOU ROCK! Did I say thank you?
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thank you thank you thank you! I just moved into my new home and I have two out of control Lilacs that I want to prune back. I have now watched 8 videos on how to do this. and they ALL say to basically cut it all the way back and leave some straggly growth to regrow. It's such a beautiful plant! The thought of hacking it all up horrified me! FINALLY I found yours and you are encouraging the shape and beauty while cleaning it up. Now I cant wait to put on some gloves, grab my pruners and go at it! YOU ROCK! Did I say thank you?
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JDs
If you want to keep it give it one to two years you should start getting new shoots from the ground instead of the base of existing ones as you do cut off the oldest biggest one near it or the least healthy one of the bunch right at ground level. Some people will cut whole thing off at base but then you have to wait 2-3 years for new blooms. it amazing how hearty these are. You will be suprised how a seemingly rotten dead 40 year old lilac will come back to life.
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If you want to keep it give it one to two years you should start getting new shoots from the ground instead of the base of existing ones as you do cut off the oldest biggest one near it or the least healthy one of the bunch right at ground level. Some people will cut whole thing off at base but then you have to wait 2-3 years for new blooms. it amazing how hearty these are. You will be suprised how a seemingly rotten dead 40 year old lilac will come back to life.
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Can't
My wife and I bought an old farmhouse with a huge old lilac. about 15 ft. tall - the shortest stem. Barely bloomed the 1st year. Cut the whole thing back to about 4 inches tall right after it finished. Second year it had about the same number of blooms as the 1st year. But since then it has doubled or tripled the number of blooms, looks so much better and is easy to keep under control at about 7-8 foot. Just another way to rejuvenate lilacs.
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My wife and I bought an old farmhouse with a huge old lilac. about 15 ft. tall - the shortest stem. Barely bloomed the 1st year. Cut the whole thing back to about 4 inches tall right after it finished. Second year it had about the same number of blooms as the 1st year. But since then it has doubled or tripled the number of blooms, looks so much better and is easy to keep under control at about 7-8 foot. Just another way to rejuvenate lilacs.
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Pepper
We are on our 2nd or 3rd year of lilacs. I haven't had them bloom since we got them. It was probably because I pruned at the wrong time. I know better now. What I am still trying to figure out is what to do with them over the winter in zone 6B? They finally have lots of buds, I am guessing they will be for next years flowers but what do I have to do so the winter doesn't kill them without cutting them off like I probably did before?
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We are on our 2nd or 3rd year of lilacs. I haven't had them bloom since we got them. It was probably because I pruned at the wrong time. I know better now. What I am still trying to figure out is what to do with them over the winter in zone 6B? They finally have lots of buds, I am guessing they will be for next years flowers but what do I have to do so the winter doesn't kill them without cutting them off like I probably did before?
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Simon
It looks like at some point someone cut the entire tree at the base, the tree pushed out many waterspouts around the rim of the wound, witch thickened up over the next many years. Thinner waterspouts eventually died of over time as they cant win the competition between thicker branches. Knowing it will be eventually cut down, its a pretty sad story from the point of a tree. Thank you Laura for the great video!
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It looks like at some point someone cut the entire tree at the base, the tree pushed out many waterspouts around the rim of the wound, witch thickened up over the next many years. Thinner waterspouts eventually died of over time as they cant win the competition between thicker branches. Knowing it will be eventually cut down, its a pretty sad story from the point of a tree. Thank you Laura for the great video!
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Popcorn
Lilacs look so much better, this is one of my favorite things about gardening, pruning for the benefit of the plant. I see so many properties in my area that have shrubs and trees with so much overgrowth Hoping this knowledge spreads. Don't be afraid to prune people, Helps the health and longevity of the plant so much!
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Lilacs look so much better, this is one of my favorite things about gardening, pruning for the benefit of the plant. I see so many properties in my area that have shrubs and trees with so much overgrowth Hoping this knowledge spreads. Don't be afraid to prune people, Helps the health and longevity of the plant so much!
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