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I have a few lilacs now in pots but when we get to our house they will be put in the ground.
I'll have a smaller yard and I want to maximize the flower garden area. My thought is to try to train the lilac's into more of a tree form allowing me to plant flowers under them. The ones I have had end up being more bushy. I'd like the growth to be on top of the bushes.
Any thoughts? Do I just thin them and trim out the bottom branches? Will they still grow healthy this way?
The experience we have with lilacs is they are very hardy and put up with good pruning. I would let the root system establish itself before pruning. You will be able to trim the lower branches, but the problem with lilacs is they send up tons of suckers. We keep the bases of our lilacs pruned well, but it is a spring and summer long chore.
I have a few lilacs now in pots but when we get to our house they will be put in the ground.
I'll have a smaller yard and I want to maximize the flower garden area. My thought is to try to train the lilac's into more of a tree form allowing me to plant flowers under them. The ones I have had end up being more bushy. I'd like the growth to be on top of the bushes.
Any thoughts? Do I just thin them and trim out the bottom branches? Will they still grow healthy this way?
Yes, you can prune them, but their natural habit is for the older stalks to be replaced by new shoots, thats why they are normally big and widespread, like forsythia. Also any branch you prune will not rebloom right away. I have read that you should prune in 1/3s from year to year. I think if you want something to grow into a tree form, you would be happier to choose another plant. How about a flowering crabapple? I have 2 with plantings under them.
Yes, you can prune them, but their natural habit is for the older stalks to be replaced by new shoots, thats why they are normally big and widespread, like forsythia. Also any branch you prune will not rebloom right away. I have read that you should prune in 1/3s from year to year. I think if you want something to grow into a tree form, you would be happier to choose another plant. How about a flowering crabapple? I have 2 with plantings under them.
No I already have the lilacs, they are staying. I just want to keep them a manageable size and shape.
With lilacs they are propagated by runners. The best time to trim them is after they flower for the year. trimming back by 1/3 is good. Once they are established they can be cut off at ground level and will regrow with vigor.
I would keep them trimmed back as a bush, I don't think they would do well as a tree. But trimming them to height and spread would be best IMO.
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