How to Plant Lilacs & Buttercups
Lilac bushes have been a fragrant favorite in the United States since the mid 1700s. The shrubs can grow anywhere from 4 to 30 feet tall. Buttercups, or
ranunculus, grow 1 to 3 feet tall; their flowers are a colorful compliment to lilac blossoms.
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Instructions
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Lilac
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1
Select an area for planting in full sun with well-draining soil.
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2
Remove the top soil completely from the planting area. Dig a hole that is twice as deep as the lilac root system is long.
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3
Mix a few handfulls of gravel and compost in with garden soil at the bottom of the hole.
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4
Hold the planting upright in the center of the hole. Push garden soil into the hole around the roots and gently tamp it into place.
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5
Fill in the hole entirely and tamp the top with a shovel or your feet. Pack the soil well.
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6
Water the planting. Spread 2 to 3 inches of mulch around the lilacs.
Buttercups
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7
Choose a sunny location with well-draining soil in early spring. Till or work the soil and clear any rocks.
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8
Dig a 4 to 6 inch deep furrow in the tilled soil with a hoe.
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9
Back fill the furrow, leaving a 3 inch deep row.
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10
Lay tubers, roots down, in the row--6 to 8 inches apart. Cover with 2 inches of soil.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Fall is the best time to plant lilacs. April through October is fine, if planted immediately after purchase. Buttercups can be grown from seeds in flats in early spring, then transplanted to a flower bed.
Buttercups are poisonous to horses. All parts of the plant are toxic.
