Lilac is a real feast for the eyes, especially during its flowering period, when the up to 30 centimeter long flower panicles open their countless small flowers. So that you can enjoy this shrub or tree for a long time, careful care is required, whereby lilacs practically grow by themselves in the right location.

With good care, the lilac blooms magnificently and for a long time

Should you water lilacs? If yes, when and how often?

You only have to occasionally water a lilac that has been planted out, is older and has established itself at its location during longer dry periods. Otherwise, watering is only necessary for young, freshly planted specimens and lilacs cultivated in tubs.

When and how should lilacs be best fertilized?

Fertilize your planted lilacs once or twice a year with mature compost and horn shavings (€32.93), which you carefully work into the root disc when they sprout and in early summer. At some locations, fertilizing with lime can also be useful. Between April and September, potted lilacs are supplied with a liquid container plant fertilizer that should only contain a little nitrogen.

Can you cut lilacs? When is the best time to cut back?

The best time for pruning is right after flowering, when you have to clean out the faded shoots anyway. On this occasion, it is best to cut at the same time

  • criss-crossed and otherwise diagonally growing shoots
  • overaged, sparsely leafed, diseased and dead branches
  • thin shoots that appear powerless
  • as well as overly long branches away.

If you cut back in spring, you should never remove the new shoots, because lilacs always bloom on this year's branches.

Which diseases affect the lilac more often?

Lilacs are particularly sensitive to fungal diseases, which is why you should close all possible gateways or keep them as small as possible. This includes pruning on a warm and sunny day so these can dry quickly - using sharp and sanitized tools. Powdery mildew occurs particularly frequently, but so does the so-called “lilac epidemic”. In the case of the dreaded Vertlillium wilt, only a pruning and a change of location will help.

Which pests can cavort on lilacs?

The lilac leaf miner moth or lilac moth can be found relatively frequently. You will first notice its presence in irregular, brown and dried leaf spots.

Are lilacs hardy? What is the best way to overwinter it?

Planted lilacs are sufficiently hardy and therefore do not need any special winter protection. Only specimens cultivated in pots should be given one so that their roots do not freeze through. For this purpose you can wrap the planter with a fleece. If the above-ground parts of the plant freeze back, the lilac usually sprout again from the root.

tips

Unfortunately, lilacs are very sensitive to planting on their root disc, which is why it is better to leave them free. Mulching with bark mulch should also be viewed critically, as this removes nutrients (especially nitrogen) from the soil.

Category:

Trees