With an older lilac, leaves and flowers form less luxuriantly and the base becomes bare. Thorough pruning, which should be done at the end of May after flowering, will help.

In order to prevent lilacs from becoming bare, it is advisable to cut them back thoroughly from time to time

How to perform a rejuvenation pruning on an old lilac

With an over-aged lilac only a radical pruning helps:

  • Cut off all branches 60 to 80 centimeters above the ground.
  • Numerous new shoots will form over the course of the following summer.
  • Next year, remove any branches that grow inward.
  • In addition, cut away any shoots that disturb the shape of the bush.
  • Cut back the lilac only slightly in the following years.
  • It is enough to remove the withered flowers.
  • This gives the shrub enough time to recover.

Most likely, your lilac will sprout more from the roots after this radical pruning. The root suckers can appear within a radius of several meters and should be removed immediately, as they rob the mother plant of its strength. In order to permanently remove the saplings, you need to dig them up and rip them out right at their base. Cutting off at the surface (e.g. by walking over it with the lawnmower) usually only leads to more runners being formed.

This is how you prevent a lilac from aging

If the lilac has successfully rejuvenated, you should prevent it from aging again after a few years by regularly pruning it back. By removing old branches, you stimulate the formation of new branches - which in turn has the pleasant side effect that the lilacs bloom all the more magnificently. Annual pruning should be done as follows:

  • Remove wilted blooms by trimming just below the bloom and above an outward-facing eye.
  • Remove dead branches
  • as well as any branches and twigs that cross or grow inwards.
  • Put the pruning shears as close as possible to the base.
  • If necessary, remove branches that disturb the shape of the bush.
  • This is the case, for example, with branches that protrude very far.
  • Cut or saw these off above an outward branch as well.
  • Remove the root suckers that sprout at the base of the shrub.

tips

Clippings from pruning can be used for propagation and grafting.

Category:

Trees