Who doesn’t the love sweet fragrance of a lilac flower? The ideal lilac shrub is one of the most carefree shrubs with simple needs. Choose a good planting site, and the only thing you need to do is yearly pruning to maintain their shape. They come in seven different colors; however, most of the people are familiar with the common lilac, Syringa vulgaris, deep violet, or purple lilac. These fragrant flowers are attractive to butterflies and are sure to add a charm to your garden.
So, if you are wondering how to plant lilac bushes, you have come to the right place. Follow these tips, and you be rewarded with clusters of fragrant lilac blooms.
Pick A Good Spot To Plant Lilac
Lilac flowers grow best in full sunlight. So, don’t plant them in a spot where they will be shaded for a major portion of the day. Further, lilacs need good drainage to thrive. The soil should have a great ability to retain moisture to nourish the root system. The soil should be fertile, humus-rich, neutral to alkaline, as well as well-drained.
If the soil isn’t fertile, you can look for a professional organic fertilizer service to add necessary nutrients to the soil and prepare it for planting.
Besides, weeds and pests can damage the lilac shrubs or any other plants. Use organic vinegar weed killer to get rid of these unnecessary elements present in the soil.
Plant The Lilac Flowers
Now that you have picked a spot and prepared the soil, the next step is to plant lilac. Fall or spring is considered as the ideal time for growing lilacs. The planting hole should be deep enough to accommodate the lilac’s root system. Place the root ball’s top with the hole’s surface.
Also, if lilac is a bare-root, the top layers must be a few inches below the surface. While filling in with soil, make sure to water thoroughly. It will remove the air pockets while keeping the soil porous.
Depending upon the variety, space the lilac bushes at least 5 to 15 feet apart. In the initial years, it is essential to water your lilacs regularly. With this much care, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful, huge blossoms in 4-5 years.
Fertilize The Soil After The First Growing Season
Add granular organic fertilizer at the base of the lilac plant early in the spring to provide essential nutrients for the coming year. Besides, check if the soil is acidic or alkaline. A lilac bush thrives in sweet soil. So, if it has turned acidic, add garden lime to help the soil stay alkaline.
Look After The Lilac Bushes You’ve Planted
Lilac bush care is necessary for the health of the flowers. If rainfall is less than 1 inch per week, don’t forget to water during the summer. Though lilacs need fertile soil, they won’t grow if the soil is overfertilized. After your lilac bush has stopped blooming, spread some lime and well-rotted lime around the base. Shape the bush using a trimmer and remove suckers.
Prune The Lilacs
Though lilac flowers don’t require annual pruning cutting off the spent flower heads will help the plant to concentrate on creating more flower buds. You can rejuvenate the plant by cutting it 1/3rd of the oldest branches if the lilacs grow too long. Cut the main stems up to 12 to 15 inches from the base. It will boost the growth of new shoots.
Follow these handfuls of tips, and you’ll see beautiful lilac flowers smiling in your garden.