cutting lilac bush (flowers, grown, fertilizer, Lilacs)
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I have an old lilac bush in the corner of my yard. Only gets 3 or 4 blossoms/year. I've heard if I cut it way back it'll grow back and start flowering again. Tried fertilizer and it didn't help.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Cutting it way back means NO blooms for a year or two. Ours has not bloomed in 10 years,m because the cedar tree next to it has grown tall enough that it no longer gets any sun.
We did this one-third cutting back a couple of years ago. A friend was horrified and I'll admit it did look tough. But the tree is filling out nicely again and I am anxious to see if it makes any blossoms this year.
I have cut mine off at ground level before with zero problems. I have done this at multiple properties I own. It will take 2 to 3 years for it to get flowers after this.
I have also just tried removing 1/3 of the largest branches at ground level. Not a big fan of this. Then a couple years ago I cut them off at 3 foot tall. This turned out pretty good. It was done to lilacs I had cut off at ground level around a dozen years ago.
I have an old lilac bush in the corner of my yard. Only gets 3 or 4 blossoms/year. I've heard if I cut it way back it'll grow back and start flowering again. Tried fertilizer and it didn't help.
So if I do cut it way back, will it grow again?
1. Pruning now is a mistake, you may shock it. Do it in winter.
2. I didn't prune mine for 1st time and I'm noticing more flowers now. Odd. Maybe I was pruning at the wrong times or too much? Or maybe it was the Holly Tone it didn't like.
3. YES, if you cut way back new shoots will grow but don't expect flowers until it gets established more
4. I read that you should cut the old bigger trunks and let new growth take over but I learn by trial and error and my own experience rather than anything I read on the net
Prune it right after it flowers. Hack it back as much as you want, it will grow back. As said, it may be a year or two before it really starts to bloom again. We have a lilac that is over 30 years old and blooms consistently every year. I prune it once every 5 or 10 years.
A friend told me that there should only be nine (9) branches coming out from the ground (I know it sounds hokey) but we pruned back to nine and our lilac bushes grow pretty well. Last year was the iffy year. Seemed not to bloom fully although there were plenty of flowers, just not as full as usual. Gonna look at the botanical garden link (thanks gentlearts).
Lilacs to me are like peonies. Fleeting. Enjoy them while they are here.
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