Pruning is an of the essence part of caring for your lilac George Herbert Walker Bush to ensure they stay tidy and produce abundant blossom year after twelvemonth . One of the most common questions that gardeners have is when to prune lilac . The general convention of pollex for pruning lilac is to do so straight off after they have finished flowering in the spring .
It is crucial to prune your lilacs at the right time because these beautiful shrubs adjust the prime bud for the undermentioned year right after the current twelvemonth ’s flowers have shrivel away . If you hold back to prune until later in the summertime or fall , you risk trim down off these next year ’s flower bud , which will ultimately ensue in few or no flowers the following leaping .
When decide when to prune your lilacs , it ’s important to watch the blooming cycle of these plants . Lilacs typically blossom in the former spring to other summer months , depending on the diversity and the climate in which they are planted . Once the flowers have faded and the blooms are spent , that is the idealistic time to grab your pruning shear and get to work .

By snip your lilacs right after they have finished flowering , you give the bush plenteousness of time to regain and grow new shoot and bud for the next blooming season . It ’s a touchy equaliser between ensuring the current year ’s growth is healthy and vivacious while preparing the plant for a lush showing of flowers in the undermentioned spring .
Another understanding to prune your lilacs immediately after flowering is to prevent the plant life from wasting energy on producing seeds . By pruning off the fagged blush , you redirect the plant ’s energy into root and bourgeon growth rather than seed production , which results in a healthier and more robust lilac bush .
While it may be enticing to prune your lilac throughout the year to mould or manipulate their emergence , it ’s good to set major pruning to the post - flowering menstruum . This will help avoid interfering with the plant ’s natural growing cycle and control a bountiful display of blooms each class .
When approaching the undertaking of dress your lilac , be sure to habituate clean and penetrating pruning shears to make unobjectionable cut that bring around rapidly . Avoid over - pruning , as this can stress the plant and inhibit its ability to give rise flowers . or else , focus on absent utter or pathological wood , spent blooms , and any crossing branch that may hinder the plant ’s growth .
Remember that each lilac variety may have its unequalled pruning requirements , so it ’s of the essence to research your specific character of lilac to determine the good pruning practices . Some varieties may benefit from more aggressive pruning to observe their shape and muscularity , while others may only need promiscuous prune to stick around healthy .
at last , the key to successful lilac pruning is timing and precision . By pruning your lilac at once after they have eat up flower , you’re able to push healthy increment , abundant bloom , and a sensational display of colouration in your garden year after year .
So , score your calendar for next spring , and remember to grab your pruning shears as soon as those lilac blooms fade . Your plants will thank you with a fit of beautiful flowers that will clear up your garden and your day .
Caroline Bates