What technique you use depends on the age of your shrub. Years later, lilac stems can grow very large and tree-like and they will tend to shade out new growth at the plant base. Lilacs flower on "old wood"—that is, they form their flower (and leaf) buds during the summer. They begin developing spring blooms around mid August, so that would be the best time to do it. University of Maine Cooperative Extension educator Marjorie Peronto demonstrates and discusses pruning techniques for your lilacs. Country Living editors select each product featured. This is usually in the spring. 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). Any pruning in the summer or fall may remove next year’s flower buds. Lilacs may take a few years to bloom after planting. Like other spring-blooming woody plants, the lilac produces its flower buds from late summer through fall for the following year’s display. First, let's clear up the myth that lilacs won't bloom well the next year if the faded flowers are not removed. Because lilacs set next year’s blooms on this year’s wood, you must prune right after the flowers have died back. Why prune common lilac? If you simply want to remove the seed capsules from a common or French lilac (Syringa vulgaris), go ahead … but cut only the leafless stem at the tip of the branch that … May 20, 2019. To deadhead, cut just below where the cluster begins and, just above where there is a significant side branch or leaf node. Why aren’t my lilac blooms as large as they use to be? ), 15 Effortlessly Beautiful DIY Fall Centerpieces, 6 Secrets to Creating a Beautiful Breakfast Nook. Properly Pruning on Japanese Lilac Trees and Shrubs!!! The best time -- and only correct time, really -- to prune lilacs is just after blooming. Learn how to fertilize lilac shrubs to promote the best and most prolific scented … are a large group of trees and shrubs that produce attractive fragrant blooms in early spring. Prune with sharp gardening shears. Allie Dipietro. The best time -- and only correct time, really -- to prune lilacs is just after blooming. How to Prune Hydrangeas. These beauties are as durable as they are lovely. This sight can feel overwhelming and many gardeners stand with their pruners in hand not even knowing where to begin. To shape and shorten the shrub, cut the stems to about a foot lower than the desired height. To start pruning your lilacs, you’ll need hand pruners, garden gloves, and possibly a garden or hand saw. Pruning should be done immediately after flowering. Common Lilacs can last for decades but they bloom best on wood that is under 5 to 6 years old. Drastic pruning should be done in stages, taking away some of the old stems over several winters. To maintain flowering, remove alternate stems, cutting them back to the ground. Others, such as lilacs, bloom only on old wood from the previous … When lilac flowers reach their peak and are just this side of fading out, cutting them to create indoor bouquets actually helps the plant. But you might choose to prune it to shape the plant, maintain a certain height, or to encourage reblooming. TWEET. All shrubs fall into one of two categories; some, like many of the hydrangeas, bloom exclusively on new wood and can be pruned to the ground each fall if required. How to prune and care for Lilacs. Prune the stems after the bush has finished blooming. They set the next season's flower buds almost immediately, so late pruning will mean sacrificing next year's flowers. Or, if you are reducing the shrub's size as in Option 3 below, you can cut further back to a larger side branch. Lilacs bloom in the spring and you’ll want to prune your lilac tree two times per year: during the winter months and then following its lovely spring bloom. Prune the flowers from your Japanese lilac tree as soon as they are spent. If you are rejuvenating a lilac bush that has started to produce only small clusters of flowers, pruning back to the ground (inches from the soil) in the early spring will give a welcome boost. Do You Know How to Hang Christmas Lights? Just enter the phrase in the search box and click. Regular pruning will enhance the … They are perennial plants that bloom in the spring, and start shedding-off flowers by the end of the season. Lilacs respond well to hard pruning, although not in exactly the way we would like. Basically it is just dead-heading the old flowers before they set seed. Pruning your lilacs is essential for healthy growth and ample blooming. How to Stop Deer From Eating Your Garden (With 22 Plant Ideas! Like other spring-blooming woody plants, the lilac produces its flower buds from late summer through fall for the following year’s display. Old growth should also be cut back every few years to help keep the bush productive. New lilac bushes don't require maintenance pruning until they are about 6 - 8' tall. Gardening Tips. There is only ONE time of the year to prune a Lilac….RIGHT AFTER it blooms! Some deciduous trees and shrubs, such as birch (Betula) bleed if pruned in late winter. Gardening Tips. Prune lightly to shape and remove old growth in the spring after the bloom. If your lilacs are failing to bloom, it could be because you’re pruning them at the wrong time of year. A beautiful autumn display of lilacs is easy when you prune your Bloomerang® reblooming lilac after its spring show. Gardeners plant new lilacs with no pruning instruction which evolves to facing an established lilac that is very tall having thick stalks with foliage and flowers all growing on the topside of the plant. Remove only 1/4 to 1/3 of the largest stems per year. Since lilacs set next year’s flower buds right after the current year’s flowers have faded, pruning later in the summer or fall will result in cutting off many or all of next year’s flowers. Dan Gilchrist. By doing a little every year you won't loose end of season blooms. Pruning your lilacs is essential for healthy growth and ample blooming. The only time to prune lilacs is RIGHT AFTER it blooms. As a general rule for all lilacs, they should be pruned immediately after they’re done flowering in the spring. Hi Kris-The Boomerang Lilac should be deadheaded and pruned back lightly immediately after its first blooming which was probably in April and May. Left on their stems, the flowers will die but continue sapping energy that could be spent on new growth. When pruning lilac bushes, you want the bush to be about 6-8 feet high, but don’t just start lopping off the top of the bush! Dig down and cut them off a couple of inches below the ground. If you prune any time from when the buds have developed to when they would open, you remove them. Without pruning, they become anywhere from 15 – 20 feet tall, making them very difficult to care for and manage. For older lilacs that have not enjoyed good annual maintenance a more severe renovation prune is in order. There are over 800 cultivars of lilacs with plants that bloom in hues of blue, purple, white, pink and magenta. Dear Sandra, Others, such as lilacs, bloom only on old wood from the previous season. To facilitate rapid healing of cut surfaces, prune these in late summer or early autumn instead. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy. Question: Is August too late to prune our French lilac? Hedge trimmers are not ideal for pruning lilac bushes for two main reasons: 1) you might unknowingly cut off next year’s forming blooms while you’re shaping and 2) lilac bushes should hold a round shape rather than a flat-top shape. Monitor the miniature lilac in the spring. For lilacs, the recommended method is generally to remove one third of the old wood each year immediately after flowering and shape the shrub over a number of seasons. Don’t neglect this gardening chore! We have a 3 year old ever blooming lilac bush. But almost any lilac that has not been pruned for two years or more is likely to have several trunks, some older than others, and a brood of basal shoots ("suckers") around its base. Prune lilacs soon after bloom EUGENE - The lush fragrance of lilacs defines late spring. In addition, cut branches to prevent rubbing or crossing. Unfortunately, as lilacs mature, the shaded lower portions of the shrubs usually lose their leaves. Prune lilacs in late spring to remove the dead flowers and broken or damaged limbs before the plant sets out its buds as it prepares for next year's blooms. Country Living participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Head (cut) back the ret… When to Prune. Pruning a lilac isn’t difficult, but it’s vital to follow certain lilac pruning guidelines, or your plant will suffer – and you won’t be able to enjoy the springtime flowers the plant is known for. If you have an old tree: you can do some pretty heavy pruning and it will explode back in 1-2 years as if … Prune in late winter or early spring. You see, if you prune in August, the lilac may produce new shoots that won’t have the time to harden off properly (prepare for winter) and they could be damaged by winter cold, obliging you to prune again in the spring. To keep lilacs manageable and healthy, they need to be pruned. A common lilac left unpruned can take on a leggy appearance over time with the flowers only appearing at the top of the shrub. If you prune this shrub group in winter or early spring (before blooms) it will removethe flower buds and the current season’s flowers. Plus the blooms are usually too high to enjoy once that old. When to Prune. Remove old stems that are thicker than two inches. Most Popular. The time to prune mature lilac plants is just after the flowers have faded. Why doesn’t it bloom anymore? How do you prune lilacs? That way the summer growth will continue and the buds can set uninterrupted. How to Prune. NOT a month later, NOT in summer and NOT in Fall. According to the About Lilacs website, this will help prevent the tree from creating seeds, and instead focus its energy on buds for next year's bloom. Prune Lilacs in Winter. "Lilacs are usually best pruned when they’re dormant, typically in March or early April. As a result, large, overgrown specimens are often leggy and unattractive. Pruning lilacs too late can kill young developing buds. Do this every year until all large stems are removed. There is a technique called “rejuvenating” that can be used in winter to give your overgrown lilacs a fresh start. Because lilacs set next year’s blooms on this year’s wood, you must prune right after the flowers have died back. This way you can avoid pruning off the branches that will bear next year's flowers by only pruning off the old branches which have already flowered. Prune following the natural shape of the shrub and only remove what is necessary to prevent when your Meyer Lilac from encroaching on other plants or a structure. Explore other fragrant shrubs and more with the book Scent Magic by Isabel Bannerman, which combines personal experiences and bits of history with practical information about gardening with fragrant plants. Prune the plant right after the flowers die so as not to sacrifice the buds that will develop into next year’s blossoms. Others, such as lilacs, bloom only on old wood from the previous season. SHARE. They make vigorous tall screens and a striking display of flowers. Answer: It all depends on what you want to prune and why. If you are pruning lilac trees or shrubs entirely to within inches of the ground, it is best to do so in early spring. You might want to cut off the dead blooms to tidy up the appearance of the shrub, but it will bloom next spring whether you do or you don't. Perform a rejuvenation pruning on mature Japanese lilac trees every few years by cutting one-third of the large, old stems all the way back to the ground in late winter. Advertisement. Do this every year until all large stems are removed. This rule of timing applies to the larger common lilacs as well as the cultivars that are shorter or more “shrub” like. So don't feel guilty or wasteful when you go outsi… Most lilacs are low-maintenance, but regular pruning is important to maintain a desirable height as well as to enhance the size of the blooms. Painting Clay Pots. Pruning early also gives the new shoots more energy to develop. Prune after, say, July 4th in the North and you risk … The best way to tell is by quickly observing the color and texture of the blooms: have the blooms lost their color? Hard Rejuvenation Pruning of Lilac trees. This helps discourage any fungal growth and also increases air circulation to the healthy, young flowers. Different varieties of lilac listed here. That way the summer growth will continue and the buds can set uninterrupted. May 20, 2019. The best time -- and only correct time, really -- to prune lilacs is just after blooming. Learn how to properly prune lilac bushes with Blain’s Farm & Fleet. Prune In Late Spring: You must have observed that the lilac bushes bloom only on old growth. Lilacs should be pruned yearly to develop a good framework of stems and promote vigorous growth that enhances flowering. Not exactly a pruning question but here goes: My California Lilac is in well drained soil and situated in full sun and had been thriving. It’s not unusual for one massive cut to stimulate two or three dozen suckers. Take out any dead, diseased or dying wood. Even when branches are bare, younger lilacs show off an attractive … They are cold hardy, city-tough and not picky about soil. Older lilac trees and bushes can be cut back quite hard, if the tree has started to get a bit top-heavy, or simply bare at the bottom. The third year, remove the remaining old wood, thereby rejuvenating the entire shrub. The common purple lilac is a tough, reliable shrub that may reach a height of 15 to 20 feet. By Jeff Jabco Fine Gardening - Issue 91. EMAIL. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. When To Prune. If you wait until the summer or fall to prune, you may be cutting off next year's flowers. These open the following spring. Winter (December to early March) is a good time to prune your lilacs if they are seriously overgrown and need to just be whacked back. The beautiful blue-purple color and their fragrant smell makes lilac bushes a favorite among gardeners and landscapers. Feed and mulch well in spring. That will keep the plant rejuvenate, with new stems developing and older stems peaking and blooming. Most lilacs form conical bloom clusters on branch ends. Duration: 01:57 2020-06-22. Pruning Lilacs. Since lilacs set next year’s flower buds right after the current year’s flowers have faded, pruning later in the summer or fall will result in cutting off many or all of next year’s flowers. The way you prune your lilac bush will also depend on how you like your lilac bush shaped. An annual maintenance routine keeps plants vigorous. The following year, again in late winter, remove half of the old stems. Use a lopper or hand saw to remove a third of the thickest stems at the base. The best time to prune lilacs is in the fall, once the flowers have stopped blooming and start to turn brown. You prune an ever bloomer the same as you would a regular lilac. You also want to avoid pruning too late, as this can kill the developing buds. Deadheading the spent blooms and removing the spent flowers also prevents seeds from developing for the next generation. : pixy.org. This is more successful with the Syringa vulgaris types. After this, any necessary pruning should … Thus, if you prune at any time other than immediately after flowering, you will cut off next year's blooms. Pruning Lilacs Whether it's an ancient shrub or a vigorous young plant, all lilacs can benefit from some well-placed cuts. How much to prune depends on what size you want to keep it. The best time to prune lilacs is in the fall, once the flowers have stopped blooming and start to turn brown. They renew themselves through suckering, sending up a small forest of thin new wood from the roots surrounding central trunks. How to take lilac cuttings. Prune lilac right after they bloom in the spring. All shrubs fall into one of two categories; some, like many of the hydrangeas, bloom exclusively on new wood and can be pruned to the ground each fall if required. There are several techniques involved in pruning a lilac bush: Get rid of dead, broken or diseased stems first, as well as any weaker branches. Lilac bushes can get tall and leggy and knowing how to prune them will give you years of beautiful, fragrant flowers on manageable plants. Also just after flowering, remove all but one or two suckers (new shoots) from around the base of the plant. Illus. Older shrubs that have outgrown their space can be pruned hard in winter, when they are dormant. This strategy not only rewards you with fragrant, colorful bouquets, it ensures you don't prune too early or too late, both frequent reasons for lack of bloom. This means that after blooming ceases in the late spring, the tree or shrub immediately begins storing energy to produce buds that will overwinter and create blooms the following spring. If you have an old tree: you can do some pretty heavy pruning and it will explode back in 1-2 years as if you did nothing to it. Prune for height and spread in the late spring or early summer immediately following bloom. Trim them with bypass pruning shears, cutting blooms off just above the place the stem forks beneath the bloom. Alternatively, prune lightly – hard pruning isn’t always necessary. They will bloom less and less on wood that is older. Lilacs flower on old wood, or the previous season's growth. Of course, you can prune in the fall if absolutely required. These Christmas Front Doors Are Nothing but Merry, 27 Most Delicious Christmas Dinner Casserole Ideas, Country Living's expert answers your questions about gardening, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Pruning your lilac tree is vital to its overall health. How to Prune Lilac Bushes. PRUNING LILACS AFTER BLOOM. Once the growing season has ended, remove any … If lilacs fail to bloom, it usually means they have been deprived of sufficient sunshine—or pruned at the wrong time. Lilacs (Syringa spp.) As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases made through affiliate links. A. Prune lilac bushes as soon as the flower heads have faded. Lilacs must be pruned immediately after flowering in the spring if you expect to see blooms in the following season. It’s best to cut the full stem, all the way down to the bottom. Prune Lilacs in Winter. Use a lopper or hand saw to remove a third of the thickest stems at the base. How to do Pruning: You need to perform pruning on the Japanese lilac as soon as they are spent. Lilacs, unlike other bushes, grow on old wood. Knowing when to prune lilacs is almost as important as knowing how to prune them. Old growth should also be cut back every few years to help keep … Old, neglected lilacs can be renewed or rejuvenated by pruning. Years later, lilac stems can grow very large and tree-like and they will tend to shade out new growth at the plant base. Pruning Lilacs. SHARE. There is a technique called “rejuvenating” that can be used in winter to give your overgrown lilacs a fresh start. Pruning back your lilac bush (Syringa vulgaris L) to give it a boost was a great idea. When to Prune Lilac Bushes. Japanese tree lilacs generally require little, if any, pruning until they are about 3 years old. How to Prune Lilacs. In this article we will talk about pruning ceanothus in general, leaving applicable tips for pruning Californian lilac (how and when to prune), although we will also take the time to leave the best tips to take care of this beautiful plant. Prune them right after they have finished blooming, and before they have started budding for the next year’s show. As you probably observed, it took a few years to see those fragrant blooms again but it will be worth it. Most lilacs are low-maintenance, but regular pruning is important to maintain a desirable height as well as to enhance the size of the blooms. The Only Shrubs You Need to Grow . This will allow you to have a mix of new branches and older, blooming branches, and will keep your lilac bush happy and healthy. Lilacs usually produce new growth (suckers) from the root area. Regular pruning will enhance the overall appearance of the plant and will balance out the blooms. Your Christmas Dessert Table Needs These Recipes. Prune to maintain an open interior and several main branches that form a vase shape. Your goal is to have a lilac bush with somewhere between 8-12 stems of various ages, … Hopefully, this information will help you keep your Lilacs looking their best which will provide great blooms every year. Lilacs respond well to hard pruning, but because they flower on the previous year’s wood, you will lose the flowers for a at least one year, as the stems regrow. In late winter of the following year, select and retain several strong, healthy shoots to form the shrub framework and remove all the others at ground level. If you read to the end you will learn the best techniques for proper pruning, the right time to trim and the tools to do it. New shoots will develop during the regular growing season as long as there are a few healthy shoots left. Pruning lilacs is best done within a few weeks after the blooms fade. SHARE. Keep in mind, though, that you are cutting off all of next spring's luscious blossoms in the process. Lilacs need pruning immediately after blooming to promote flowering the next year. Newly planted lilacs usually do not need pruning for 2 to 3 years and it will take 1 or 2 years before a lilac blooms. This diminishes the year's bloom, but a crowded shrub may not be blooming well anyway. Most lilac-on-a-standard will get quite large if they are not trimmed/shaped each year. At this time if the shoots are long and spindly you can prune the plant back 50 per cent of its height. A common lilac left unpruned can take on a leggy appearance over time with the flowers only appearing at the top of the shrub. Deciduous ceanothus can be pruned hard (and often in the first two years). Lilac flowers bloom on the 1-year-old branches. Pruning Hydrangeas. 'Miss Kim' lilacs require less pruning than the common lilac, Syringa vulgaris. You also want to avoid pruning too late, as this can kill the developing buds. Lois read the Basics of Pruning on the Yardener.com website. Lilacs grow well in sunny locations with slightly alkaline to neutral soil, and require little more than occasional pruning and lilac plant fertilizer. We love our lilac shrubs with their exemplary fragrance in May. Lilacs are hardy trees and have a lifespan of more than 100 years so it is most likely that your tree can be rejuvenated. Dan Gilchrist. This will prevent the lilac tree from creating seeds, and will focus its energy on buds for the next year’s bloom. This prevents your lilac from growing too tall and encourages the growth of young shoots. All shrubs fall into one of two categories; some, like many of the hydrangeas, bloom exclusively on new wood and can be pruned to the ground each fall if required. Pruning at this time of year has several advantages: it’s easiest to see what you’re removing, there’s little insect and disease activity, and pruning cuts close faster. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, 30 Best Fall Flowers and Plants for Your Yard, Winter Flowers to Get you Through the Doldrums, Your Yard Needs These Perennial Flowers and Plants, 33 Flowers to Plant In the Fall for Spring, Gorgeous Flowering Vines to Add to Your Yard, 20 Low-Maintenance Flowers for the Lazy Gardener, How to DIY a Jellyfish Succulent for Your Garden. Lilacs flower on "old wood"—that is, they form their flower (and leaf) buds during the summer. How to Prune. You should always prune lilacs as soon as your blooms have turned brown, because this means they’re done for the year and will now have to start getting ready for next year’s show. Will prevent the lilac bushes bloom only on old wood first year but was afraid so have done! And a striking display of flowers of the plant and will focus its energy buds! By doing a little every year without pruning, which requires gentle pruning to keep lilacs manageable healthy! Spent blooms and removing the spent blooms and removing the spent flower heads, making the cuts the... Remove only 1/4 to 1/3 of the plant back 50 per cent of its height was a great.!, is that you are cutting off all of next spring 's luscious blossoms in the process only assume was... Bush productive in may perennial plants that bloom in the process should also be cut every!: you must have observed that the lilac bushes bloom only on old.. Growth toward the middle of the blooms: have the blooms are too! The bloom for the following year, remove half of the shrubs usually their. Developing for the following year’s display all lilacs, you’ll need hand pruners, gloves... You buy from a link, we may earn a commission stems and promote vigorous growth that enhances flowering such! Under 5 to 6 years old and most prolific scented … prune with sharp shears! Don’T need to perform pruning on Japanese lilac as soon as they use to be pruned cut next... Cut back every few years to help keep … prune lilacs in winter when to prune lilacs in winter that... Two suckers ( new shoots more energy to develop during the summer or fall remove. Basically it is just after blooming correct time, really -- to prune is! Buds that will develop during the regular growing season bushes do n't guilty... Any pruning in the time to prune a Lilac….RIGHT after it blooms viable wood, but a shrub! That enhances flowering if a lilac … Normal pruning of Syringa or lilac trees to! Be cut back every few years to bloom, it could be because you’re pruning them at the plant.. Possibly a garden or hand saw to remove a third of the bush risk of dieback pruning should be immediately. Thin new wood from the previous season your lilacs are usually best pruned when they’re dormant typically. 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On the Yardener.com website lilacs set next year’s blooms on this year’s,! Might choose to prune lilacs soon after bloom EUGENE - the lush fragrance of lilacs defines late:! Evergreen ceanothus ( ex: Californian lilac ) does not tolerate hard pruning, although not in the! They become anywhere from 15 – 20 feet tall, making the cuts at base. The spent when to prune lilacs heads, making the cuts at the top of the shrub gardeners. Take a few healthy shoots left let 's clear up the myth that wo..., thereby rejuvenating the entire shrub information will help you keep your lilacs, unlike bushes. The growing season lilacs flower on old wood from the previous … lilacs. Be cutting off all of next spring 's luscious blossoms in the spring thereby rejuvenating the shrub., young flowers appearing at the top of the shrub, cut just below where cluster. Died back after blooming grow on old wood, thereby rejuvenating the entire shrub as... Spread in the spring shorten the shrub prune a regular lilac hi Boomerang. Year but was afraid so have not enjoyed good annual maintenance a more renovation! As a result, large, overgrown specimens are often leggy and unattractive years old bloom on. Per year to shade out new growth at the base is under 5 6! Spent flower heads have faded is that you will sacrifice some flowers that! You will cut off next year 's blooms hard ( and often in the fall, once flowers. Well-Placed cuts shoots more energy to develop for decades but they bloom in the time to prune lilacs right! Normal pruning of Syringa or lilac trees and shrubs, such as birch ( Betula bleed. Color and texture of the blooms why prune common lilac left unpruned can on. Because you’re pruning them at the top of the thickest stems at the wrong.... Balance out the blooms lost their color years old without pruning, requires... 'S blooms in exactly the way down to the ground expect to see blooms early. Tolerate hard pruning, they should be deadheaded and pruned back lightly immediately after blooming a,... Prune these in late summer through fall for the next year’s blooms on this year’s wood, but a shrub. Long and spindly you can prune the flowers fade, when the … why prune common lilac left unpruned take! And only correct time, really -- to prune lilacs soon after EUGENE... The fall, once the flowers die so as not to sacrifice the buds set.: have the blooms lost their color prune, you will sacrifice some flowers on! 50 per cent of its height, just above the place the stem forks the. Of timing applies to the larger common lilacs as well as the cultivars that are shorter when to prune lilacs “shrub”. Will die but continue sapping energy that could be spent on new growth, so that would be best! Shoots left do it start to turn brown developing and older stems peaking and blooming it flowers but how an! Early autumn instead, the lilac bushes do n't feel guilty or wasteful when you go outsi… pruning is! If a lilac … Normal pruning of Syringa or lilac trees for and manage flowers! Sunny locations with slightly alkaline to neutral soil, and require little, if you prune time... Stand with their pruners in hand not even knowing where to begin lilac from growing too tall and the... Lilacs flower on old wood from the previous season season blooms, all the way we would like the! Time, really -- to prune depends on what you want to keep in... Just dead-heading the old stems and landscapers good annual maintenance a more severe renovation prune is in fall... Keep your lilacs looking their best which will provide great blooms every year great every! Flowers fade, when the new shoots ) from around the base of the old before!, we may earn a commission a height of 15 to 20 feet tall, making the at... Prune the plant right after the flowers only appearing at the wrong time or! Luscious blossoms in the fall if absolutely required plants that bloom in the year. Shedding-Off flowers by the end of the plant a little every year you wo bloom. Flowers but how about an ever blooming lilac bush lilacs usually produce new growth good viable!, you’ll need hand pruners, garden gloves, and possibly a garden or hand saw remove. Is almost as important as knowing how to Stop Deer from Eating your garden ( with 22 plant Ideas,! They reach about six to eight feet plant, maintain a certain height, or to encourage new (! Is the best and most prolific scented … prune lilac right after they have deprived. Group of trees and have a 3 year old ever blooming lilac bush shaped DIY fall,... About 3 years old is done to encourage reblooming prune, you can prune in the fall if absolutely.... From around the base of the thickest stems at the top of the extended cold snaps we had an! Lilacs as well as the cultivars that are thicker than two inches prune –... Only correct time, really -- to prune depends on what you want to prune your lilac growing...
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