Robust, hardy, long-lived, fast-growing and an avid spring bloomer to boot: lilacs (Syringa vulgaris) are at home in many gardens for these and other reasons. Sometimes, however, the shrub does not really want to flower, which is often due to problems with the flower buds that have already occurred the previous year. In the following article you can find out what these are and what you need to look out for with lilac buds.

Lilac buds must not be cut off

Be careful when pruning: do not cut off any buds!

One of the most common reasons for lilacs not flowering is pruning at the wrong time: Syringa forms the buds for next year's flowering immediately after this year's branches have withered on the new shoot ends. So if you prune the shrub too late and possibly cut off the new, bud-bearing shoots, then the flowering will fail next year. To prevent this, there are three options:

  • They regularly clean faded flowers instead of cutting back the lilacs all at once.
  • They cut the lilacs immediately after they have faded.
  • They leave all the budding new shoots and just cut the old wood.

After pruning, fertilizing with compost and horn shavings (€32.93) is also good for the lilac. Don't overdo it, however, as overfeeding can prevent bud formation.

Protect buds from late frosts

Another reason for the lack of flowering is a frost that occurs very late in spring, which freezes the flower buds that have already opened. To prevent this, you should cover the bursting buds with garden fleece from around March when the weather is warm enough to protect them from frost damage. This protection is particularly important during night frosts. If it gets warmer during the day, remove the fleece.

Fungal infestation does not stop at the buds either

Lilacs are quite sensitive to fungal infestation, which is mainly noticeable on the leaves, but also on the shoots, branches and of course the flower buds. If a hitherto healthy tree or shrub suddenly begins to wither, i. H. gets dry shoots and its leaf and flower buds do not open, then Verticillium fungi are often behind it. Be sure to cut the lilac deep into the healthy wood and treat it either with fungicides from the garden store or organically with a self-made decoction of field horsetail.

tips

When cutting back new shoots, always make sure to shorten them just above the existing buds.

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Trees