How do I prepare lilacs for winter also rhubarb. Winters are harsh?

Question

I transplanted them from my mother's garden - warned them if they didn't bloom I would hack down - this was in 5th year. They bloomed this year. I have cut off the dried flowers -- now what? Fertilize, work around base? I don't recall what Mom did but she was able to make anything bloom. I jus watered them til they finally bloomed. The same question applies for rhubarb -- do I fertilize, cut back wilted brown looking stalks? I have been unable to find answers to this dilemma in all my books!!! Thanks

Answer 1

Lilacs are pretty hardy - not much you need to do there - it is good to fertilize lightly in the spring - wood ash or check out Miracid (it's like Miracle Gro, but it's for flowering plants and shrubs).

Rhubarb likes a rich soil that is loose and not compacted and drains fairly well. What happens with rhubarb is that, at the base, it forms a crown. After a few seasons or so it is good to dig up the crowns, roots and all, in the spring, loosen up the soil really good and deep and add lots of fresh soil, like "composted" cow manure (not fresh, since that burns the plants) and split the crowns in half, thirds or quarters and replant, spreading out your rhubarb patch or row as you go. You can wait until the rhubarb "sprouts" in the spring, before you dig them up, so you can create strong new plants for replanting, but you shouldn't wait too long, so the new plants won't experience too much shock when replanted.

Answer 2

I do not do anything to my lilacs other than cut off the dead blooms and cut of the largest trunk I see every year. This keeps the rejuvanated and prevents the lilac from becoming a tree keeping them bushy. Also rip out some of the suckers that come up every year. They have the best bloom the following year after I do this. I never took care of rhubarb before.

Answer 3

Lilacs are very hardy & will bloom at a mature date as you've found out. Wood ashes are all that is needed for fertilizer,& a light mulch. Rubarb is a bit more delicate, so mulch them pretty deep for winter. Cut back for stalks to eat, as they grow. Small stalks are best but you don't need to cut anything back on them at seasons end. Just remove dead leaves in the fall, when they turn brown. Rubarb & strawberries are ready at the same time, mix them to eat or can or freeze! yummmm lol

Answer 4

The wood ashes is good. Also you only prune or trim them immediately after blooming. Otherwise you are cutting off the bloom for next year if you trim or prune them at any other time. And yes they are hardy.