How do you bring back a lilac bush?

Question

We just moved to a historic farm. There are two large lilac bushes which have been neglectied for years. They are nothing but suckers standing straight up.

What can we do to bring it back? Prune it? What time of year do we do this? Any other hints? Thanks.

Answer 1

Cut the whole thing down to a height of about 6 inches.next spring you will not have flowers,only an abundance of green leaves,as the bush starts branching out and growing .The year after you will have an abundance of flowers!!!This is what I did to a very old Lilac Hedge,and I fertilized it throughout the summer,with special fertilizer for flowering shrubs.Theres nothing that beats a Lilac in full bloom!Good luck...and dont forget to mulch it before the hard frost.

Answer 2

In the fall prune it back, severely. Also look for rot in the center of the bushes also look for dead branches, remove any dead or rotten wood. Have your soil check and add fertilizer. Don't forget that after you prune you probably won't get any flowers the next year. After that every fall prune your bushes, light should get to the center of the bush. That way you'll have a fuller and better looking bush.

If you have a lot of rot, you might want to consider removing the plant and starting over with the suckers.

Good luck

Answer 3

Lilacs set there flowers on old wood. That means this years branches will have next years flowers. If they are really in bad shape use tough love cut them way back 24 or 36 inches off the ground. They will look ugly this spring but will come back great the following spring. If you want to keep your Spring flowers then DON'T prune them till after they get done flowering next Spring

Answer 4

Yes, prune it in late fall, also, very important, put lots of lime around it. the type you buy for your lawn. Lime makes the bush bloom. Don't prune too much, or you may have to wait years for flowers, just prune down about 12 inches. And lots and lots of lime in the ground around it.