Lilacs Blooms

[rbutterw]

We planted Lilacs over the winter (early Feb in Hardiness zone 7B) which we purchased from a local nursery last fall. The blooms are coming in lovely right now.

Would like to know if there is a way to extend the blooms. It is my understanding that the blooms come from the buds which are from previous year's growth. Is there a way to stimulate additional budding this year?

Thanksandhaveasunnydayinyourgarden
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[Newt]

Hi Rbutterw,

No, there isn't any way to stimulate more buds for this year. If you prune off the spent flowers, do it within 2 weeks of the finish of bloom. Some things that help to stimulate more bloom are full sun, adding lime to a more acidic soil and not using a fertilizer high in nitrogen. If your lilac is planted in a lawn, be careful not to get any fertilizer near the roots of your lilac. Here's some helpful sites.

http://spi.8m.com/care.htm
http://www.heardgardens.com/lilacqa.htm
http://www.heardgardens.com/basicsforlilacs.htm
http://www.lilacs.com/frames/care.htm
http://gardencenter.southernstates.c...ilactree.shtml

Newt

[Murph]

Here are a couple tips I've heard, but I don't know how well they work.

Root pruning is supposed to gently shock the plant into blooming. Go around the perimeter of the dripline with a spade, cutting through the roots. Your bush shouldn't need this since you just planted it last year.

Placing apple slices on the ground below the bush is supposed to help the buds mature more quickly. The fermenting apple gives off some sort of gas that does this. But theoretically the blooms would also die more quickly, so this won't extend bloom time for you.

I would think that once the lilac is in bloom, it is well into its annual cycle and wouldn't be tricked into developing new buds. I get tremendous displays simply from removing spent flowers and ignoring them the rest of the year.

[rbutterw]

To Newt and Murph,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and informative replies on Lilacs.

I will apply your knowledge to my 'plant exercises'.

Appreciate having some Lilac ghurus around for assitance.

Take Care !

[Newt]

Rbutterw,

You are very welcome!

Newt