Basically, lilac does not have to be cut, the flowering shrub does very well without any waste. Over time, however, missing pruning measures can take revenge and the tree will bare. As a result, it forms fewer leaves and flowers, its branches remain bare. How to bring such a lilac to new vitality, you will learn in the following article.

Lilacs can not only grow very large but also very old

Lilacs can get very old

First of all, as a member of the olive tree family, lilacs can get very old. In many cottage gardens there are lilac trees that were planted there several decades or even centuries ago - and still bloom every year. The oldest lilacs still alive today probably date from the 16th / 17th century. Your lilacs don't necessarily have to be as old, but with the right conditions, they have the best chances:

  • Plant in a sunny, warm and airy spot.
  • The soil should be loose, well-drained, calcareous and moderately nutrient-rich.
  • Give the shrub plenty of room - lilacs can grow very tall with age.
  • Take good care of him. This includes i.a. regular fertilization if necessary.
  • Regular pruning also keeps the tree young.

Although you can radically cut back a very old, bald lilac, you should think twice about this measure: with a bit of bad luck, the tree will not be able to cope with the pruning and will die due to the weakening. In addition, it can happen to you that after the radical cut, hundreds of root suckers sprout out of the ground at once - within a radius of several meters.

Rejuvenate old lilacs - Here's how

Instead, you should approach the rejuvenation in several stages and cut back the lilacs in a planned manner. Pruning is always carried out immediately after flowering, but larger pruning measures should be carried out on a frost-free day in January / February if possible. The first step is to cut away all faded inflorescences. Then, after that, remove all the branches that

  • have dried up
  • are only faintly leafy
  • are very long and seem powerless
  • grow crosswise or inwards
  • are snapped off

You carry out this cut anew every year and in this way achieve a rejuvenated, more vital lilac without a radical cut.

tips

After pruning, you should provide the lilac with a shovel of compost and a handful of horn shavings (€32.93).

Category:

Trees