Evelyn
Carbon Hill OH
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 6:41 pm Post subject: Lilac Bushes |
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I have this large lilac bush and it is full of blooms. My question is if I cut a bunch of the blooms off as we are getting a freeze tonight will this kill the flowers for next year?
Evelyn
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Joann
Kansas City Missouri
Posts: 88
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| Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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The way I understand Lilacs is that right after they are done blooming they'll grow their buds for next year. It's ok to cut your blooms now and if you want to prune you should do it right after they bloom. Cutting on it this summer will remove next years buds. I'm always having to prune my Lilac because of where it's planted so I only have blooms towards the top of the bush.
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Droopy
 Regular Plants Contributor
Western Norway
Posts: 9331
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| Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:15 pm Post subject: |
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When I bring lilacs or rhododendron inside, I think of it as pruning the bush and cut where it's in need of pruning. Next year's blooming won't be affected.
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kaseylib
Wisconsin
Posts: 1084
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| Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:12 pm Post subject: |
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If flowers are the goal (and, with a lilac, is there really any other purpose?) the most important thing to keep in mind is that they bloom on the previous season's growth. So, if you were to go out and prune them in late autumn or early spring, in an attempt to “clean up” the garden, you'd be cutting off all of the potential blooms. Let the flowers bloom, enjoy their heavenly scent, and then prune away----Prune After Bloom!
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Allison
Chicago
Posts: 32
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| Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 3:55 pm Post subject: trimming lilacs |
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I've always heard that you have about 3 weeks after they bloom to cut them back before they start putting out new growth for next year. That may seem a little stringent, but a good rule to try to follow. (Emphasis on the word TRY!)
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SongofJoy57
Foothills of North Carolina Z = 7a & 7b
Posts: 917
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| Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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I love lilacs, but don't have any. . . you gals know your stuff!!!!
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glendann
Texas
Posts: 9281
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| Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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Lilacs don't do very good in central Texas very well at all.I love to be in Montana in the Spring as Heather has 7 or 8 huge bushes and the scent in the yard is wonderful.
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Natural Cat
Zone 5
Posts: 24
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| Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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There is a moscow lilac in our yard with nice blooms and smells wonderful when the wind blows !!!
Also a lilac right next a few feet same height has not bloomed as yet.
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mary02
lowcountry SC and Northeast Pa.
Posts: 26
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| Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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I have several old-fashioned lilacs - came with the house. definitely a great xeriscape candidate-drought- and pest-resistant. I recently planted the new white french lilac variety.
i try to remember to follow the 3-yr. plan i read about years ago. You remove no more than 1/3 of the shrub when pruning each year. Just after blooming,cut out some of the oldest inner branches to the ground -for better circulation and to stimulate shoots for next year. since they bloom on new wood, that makes sense to me.
After 3 years of this type of selective pruning, you would have a shrub full of lilacs, almost a whole new shrub. And then you repeat the process. although i don't know why they call it a 3-yr. plan if you repeat it anyway!
i started from scratch a few years ago after hubby thought to just cut them down since they were knocking rocks off the rock wall, where inappropriately planted by the previous dwellers.There was nothing left of them. 3 years later....they came back and stronger than ever.
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