Can I cut two feet off the top of lilac bushes?

Answer 1

to rejuvenate a bush thin out a third of the old wood. You can prune the lilacs when they're blooming or shortly after the flowers have faded. If you wait any longer than that, you'll cut off next year's blooms. (from HGTV)

Answer 2

Be wary of some of the information you are getting here as you are being told some far reaching advice.
When it comes to lilacs, you really do not want to cut back two feet at all. True they are a very hardy bush and will recover if you do. However, if you cut back the two feet desired, you will experience little to no blooms next season.
The best time to cut them back is immediately after the blooms begin to wilt and fade. After the flowers begin to die back, they also begin to form the buds of next years growth. So by cutting the lilac back two feet, you will be eliminating next years flowers.

The proper way to prune a lilac is very simple. Take out the biggest and oldest branches by cutting them off at the base of the bush. This will promote growth of newer branches as it fills in. The newer branches generally bloom more profusely than old branches. Just use a good sharp hand saw or shears to prune it back.

You can also cut off younger branches from the base too if you are wanting to keep the bush in a uniform shape, but never cut off the top unless you want no blooms next year.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Are you sure it's a lilac bush? I've never seen one with feet!

Answer 4

Don't trim them anymore this season, or they won't bloom next year. Try to trim Lilacs before the 4th of July.

Answer 5

you can cut it by 1/3 of it's total size... so only cut off 2 feet if it is atleast 6 feet high

Answer 6

with no problem, we have cut ours down , moved them and have had no problem, they are like weeds, hard to kill, you'll be okay!

Answer 7

pruning promotes better growth