lilac bush growing out of control

[nay]

[align=left]When should we prun our lilac bush? Its just starting to give us lilacs and we really do not want to kill it.[/align]

[Newt]

Hi Nay,

The best time to prune spring flowering shrubs is within two weeks of the finish of bloom.* After that they set their buds for the following year.* The best way to prune a lilac is to cut the oldest canes flush to the ground.* Never do more then one third of the shrub each year.
http://www.gardenersnet.com/lilac/lilac02.htm
http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortn...993/lilac.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basic...eshrubs1.shtml

Newt