Lilacs (Syringa vulgaris) can be found in many German gardens. The shrub or small tree impresses every year with a wonderful, fragrant bloom, which, however, can only unfold in full splendor on a suitable soil.
The lilac likes dry, calcareous soil
Calcareous, dry soil is perfect
In principle, lilacs are considered to be very adaptable, but this adaptability has limits. Unsuitable for a planting are above all
- wet
- compacted
- and sour
floors. Lilacs thrive best in dry, well-drained, chalky soil, although specific preferences vary by species and cultivar. Preston lilacs, for example, prefer soil that is poor in lime but nutrient-rich, while the wild forms and many Syringa vulgaris hybrids make do with calcareous, rather lean soil. So when choosing the type of lilac, always pay attention to the type of soil it needs - and how it is actually made in your garden.
Improve soil - You have these options
You don't necessarily have to have the perfect garden soil in order to be able to successfully cultivate lilacs on it: to a certain extent, an unsuitable soil can be significantly improved with little effort:
- Heavy soil: You can improve heavy soil, possibly with a high proportion of clay, by thoroughly loosening it and adding sand and compost. Since such floors tend to waterlogging, it is also advisable to lay drainage.
- Acidic soils: are often found on railings on which more conifers and ericaceous plants such as rhododendrons have been cultivated. Here it is important to deacidify the soil by thoroughly loosening it and adding sand and lots of lime.
- Wet floor: Here it is important to know how wet the floor actually is - and why. Planting lilacs near a body of water makes little sense, but laying drainage in soil that has been soaked by heavy rain (e.g. in a depression) does.
The right substrate for lilacs cultivated in tubs
If you want to cultivate lilacs in a pot, you should place them in a mixture of good potting soil, sand and expanded clay (€19.73) - and of course don't forget the drainage!
tips
Lilacs are incompatible with themselves, which is why you should never plant a new one in a location where such a shrub or tree has already existed. Only replacing the soil beforehand would allow planting.