The main reason for planting lilacs is their beguiling flowering, which unfortunately only lasts for a short time. Nevertheless, the flowering shrub is known and loved for its lush flowers that exude an intense fragrance - it is all the more conspicuous when the same is absent. We present the most common causes for this actually atypical behavior.
Young lilacs usually do not bloom
Have patience with young lilacs - or plant noble lilacs
If the recently planted lilac still has no flowers, this is for completely natural reasons and you just need a little patience: wild lilacs in particular and other ungrafted varieties need up to three years after planting before they set flower buds and can therefore expect to flower. With some specimens it can take even longer, after all there are real late bloomers in the plant kingdom. As long as the young plant grows and develops strong new shoots every year, everything is fine. However, if you cannot do without the lilac blossom for that long, you should plant lavender. This develops the first flowering shoots on very young plants.
Causes of missing flowers
If the lack of flowering is not due to the fact that it is too young, for example because the lilac in question has always flowered very reliably, one of the following causes may be possible.
Unsuitable location
Lilacs need a lot of sun for lush flowering - the more light the shrub receives, the more flowers it produces. On the other hand, if there is no sun, the splendor that is otherwise typical in spring also fails to appear. This not only applies if you have placed the lilac in a too shady location, but also in a spring that is too dark and possibly rainy.
Unsuitable soil
The soil can also be the reason for the lack of flowering, for example because it is too compacted and the roots cannot spread properly. This form of flowerlessness often appears in the gardens of newly built houses, as the construction machines have heavily compacted the soil there. Choose a loose, well-drained and slightly alkaline to neutral soil for lilacs, if necessary simply help with a lot of lime.
Wrong pruning
If at all, you should only cut lilacs after flowering, as you run the risk of cutting off the flowering shoots if you cut them later in autumn or spring. Lilacs always bloom on shoots that are at least from the previous year.
Incorrect care (especially too little or too much fertilization)
The fact that the flower is only very small or even fails completely if there is an insufficient supply of nutrients should seem completely logical to most. But over-fertilization can also have this effect, which is why you should always follow the manufacturer's instructions for dosing.
Fungal infection (especially lilac disease)
Lilacs are very susceptible to a fungal infection. If left untreated, flowering may also fail - simply because the shrub is too busy fighting off the disease. Cut back an infested shrub deep into the healthy wood and you can enjoy a lilac bloom again in about two years.
tips
Root rot caused by waterlogging can also ensure that the lilac remains without flowers. In this case, however, only the clearing of the affected bush will help.