How to Start Lilac Bushes

Lilac bushes have heavenly-scented flowers for several weeks in spring.

Lilac is the state bush of New York and is very aromatic and beautiful. Lilac bushes bloom for only a few weeks in the spring, but a variety of lilacs can be purchased to bloom later in the summer, providing the grower with a longer bloom time. There are more than 1,000 varieties of lilac to choose from. When not blooming, lilacs are nice, full-shade bushes. For successful transplanting, location, soil condition and root health are important factors.

Things You'll Need

• Sunny location
• Well-drained soil
• Shovel
• Pruning equipment
• Compost

Instructions

Propagation

1. Choose an appropriate location. Lilacs prefer a sunny location with well-drained soil in an elevated area. Site selection is very important for proper growth.

2. Cut part of an existing lilac bush to start a new plant. Clip a well-developed root that is attached to the main bush and has shoots that are 1 or 2 feet tall. A good root system helps to ensure your new plant thrives. So take as much root as you can.

3. Dig a hole twice as big as the root system you clipped to allow easy root expansion.

4. Add compost to your soil. Lilacs love humus-rich soil.

5. Plant three to five lilac shoots together.

6. Tamp down the soil firmly using your shovel or boots, adding more soil as needed.

7. Water the lilac bush regularly the first three to four weeks to help roots re-establish themselves.

Tips & Warnings

• Always transplant in cooler weather, spring or fall, to avoid stress to the new lilac bush.

• Fertilization is not necessary, but an application of a low-nitrogen product in spring may boost bloom production.

• Lilacs also can be grown from seed retrieved from dead flowers. It may take 3 years for the first blooms to appear on transplanted shoots and 4 or 5 years on plants grown from seed.

• Add mulch to reduce weeds.

• It is advisable not to plant lilac bushes near play areas or porches because they attract many bees when blooming.

• Watch for borers or other damaging insects and apply appropriate pesticides or insecticidal soap if needed.

• Prune regularly to prevent powdery mildew.

References

• The Gardener's Network: How to Grow and Care for Lilac Bushes
• Gardening Know How: Growing and Planting Lilac Bush Plants; Nikki Phipps