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Everyone knows Lilacs, those lush shrubs with sprays of blossoms among heart-shaped leaves--a true heritage plant. With origins in Europe and Asia, Lilacs came to America with the first settlers in New England. In fact, Lilacs at the Governor Wentworth estate in New Hampshire are believed to have been planted around 1750. Hardy and forgiving, these deciduous ornamentals are often the only remaining hint that a field or city lot once supported a home or farm.
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Sun-loving and low-maintenance, Common Lilacs (Syringa vulgaris) are perfect specimens for almost any garden. Once established in the proper setting, they need only light pruning and seasonal dead-heading to keep them looking beautiful year after year. Their heady fragrance fills the April air and stirs memories of grandmothers and childhood and love.
Aged Lilacs But tough as they are, if neglected for many years, Lilacs can become overgrown, diseased, and bloomless. When this happens, there is only so much you can do to rejuvenate them. When I moved into my current home two years ago, I stared with dismay at the overgrown, leggy, ugly Lilacs that had been planted 12 years ago along the northern side of the house. Why they’d been planted in the shade, I’ll never know, but since the species is strong, they’d struggled year after year to reach the sun. The result is 12 to 15 feet of bare limbs with topknots of leaves--and no flowers (see photo). Additionally, these shrubs had been planted only 2 feet from the foundation, and one sits directly in front of a dryer vent. (See my article on Planting for the Future.) On closer examination, I found evidence of infestation by Lilac Borer (Podosesia syringae) also known as Ash Borer, with resulting rotten wood.
What to Do?
After much research, and a discussion with my local nurseryman, I had two options:
- Remove all old and dead wood, hard prune any remaining limbs to about 2-feet, and thin the suckers to leave only the strongest.
- Remove the trees entirely and plant something that prefers shade.
In either case, I would have no Lilac blooms in April, but in fact, I had none anyway.
I chose the second option. Another Problem Spot
 On the south side of the house, two Lilacs had been planted along the side of the garden shed. These bushes receive plenty of sun, but the drainage is poor and the area remains soggy. This past spring, I counted only 12 blossoms on one bush and no blossoms on the other. These shrubs had also been neglected over the years and, instead of  growing tall and gangly, they’d sent up masses of suckers, forming a thick central growing point that became a perfect spot for various tenacious weeds to establish themselves. A wild grapevine (Vitis riparia) rose from the center of the clump, sprouting each spring from a 3-inch thick vine that wrapped around the Lilac and climbed toward the sun. Several Virginia Creeper vines (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) also found a home in this spot, as well as a lone Poison Ivy vine (Toxicodendron radicans).
Same options as before: drastically prune, or remove.
I chose to cut back and renew the largest shrub, and remove the smallest. In mid-March (Zone 6a), just before the buds began to swell, I bundled up for the 35-degree temperature, and trudged out with my pruning saw, loppers, and shears.
First, I raked all the debris from beneath the shrub, and hand-raked the years of accumulated stuff from between the trunks. Then I examined each large trunk for signs of Lilac Borer; all the limbs had been infested at some time.
Next, I identified the grapevine and Virginia Creeper and removed them close to the ground. Without being able to dig them out, I’ll need to cut them back regularly. I may try some spot applications of a weed killer directly on the cut. I’d need to wait on the Poison Ivy until it emerged later in the spring.
I then pruned away all the small lilac suckers, leaving only those measuring 3/4-inch or larger.
After identifying all the dead limbs, I removed those first.
Then I cut the remaining trunks to about 2 feet. Some of these were hollow--borer larvae mature in the  heartwood over the winter. However, the wood was green and pruning would stimulate new growth.
 All this work resulted in some very bare areas in my yard, but with any luck, in a year or so I’ll again have the familiar scent of Lilacs drifting in my open windows.
1 “Lilacs at Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University”: viewed 3/20/08 at http://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/plants/lilac_history.html
2 “Ash/Lilac Borer”: Utah State University Extension Fact Sheet No. 36, April 1993
3 “Lilac Borer”: National Science Foundation Center for Integrated Pest Management.
 | Toni Leland has been writing for over 20 years. She has written a biweekly gardening newspaper column as a spokesman for the Ohio State University Master Gardener program, and writes for Grit magazine and Romance Writers Report. She has been a gardener all her life, working soil all over the world. In her day job, she scripts and produces educational DVDs about caring for Miniature Horses, as well as writing and editing books about this unique height breed. |
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Subject: Lilac
Posted by tomtom1 (from Huntington, NY) on April 4, 2008 at 4:53 PM:Toni,
I have an old Lilac bush looks like a tree with many suckers. It gets a few flowers near the top. It does get full sun.
It is early April, when should I start pruning, after this years flowering???
thanks. ... Posted by tonileland (from Nashport, OH) on April 5, 2008 at 7:00 AM: Hi tomtom,
Yes, prune after the few flowers have finished. I suspect you'll need to hard-prune out the old wood to encourage the suckers to grow into branches that will bloom. It could be two years before you see flowers, though.
The accepted practice on renewing old lilacs that are healthy is: prune one-third of the old wood each year. But remember that diseased or dead wood should be removed completely. That is why my photos show the drastic measures.
Good luck! Toni ...
Subject: Aged Lilacs
Posted by Pegaleigh (from Waynesville, NC) on March 31, 2008 at 7:28 PM:This was a very helpful article. Thanks so much. ...
Subject: How Timely!
Posted by darius (from Appalachian Mtns, VA) on March 31, 2008 at 4:50 AM:This house came with half a dozen old, shabby and overgrown lilacs scattered around the yard. Due to time constraints and the late hard freeze last year they remained mostly mere bundles of tall, gangly sticks that I didn't know how to improve. However, with the information you have provided (and hopefully no repeat of a late freeze), I think maybe I can assess them this year and take remedial action. Thanks! ... Posted by tonileland (from Nashport, OH) on March 31, 2008 at 6:30 AM: Sad, but true--nothing is as unattractive as neglected overgrown shrubs. I'm glad the article appeared at the right time. Good luck! ... Posted by cathy4 (from St. Louis County, MO) on March 31, 2008 at 10:35 AM: A late hard freeze got my lilacs last year too, they will be loved even more if/when they bloom in a month from now. Great info as I have one that needs pruning or moving. ... Posted by doccat5 (from Fredericksburg, VA) on March 31, 2008 at 10:40 AM: Very well done, informative article, thanks for sharing ... Posted by gamekeeper (from New Boston, NH) on March 31, 2008 at 1:38 PM: Toni,Enjoyed you article as in desperation I had had my mower Etc man who is quite clever prun our antient shrubs two years back and they seem to be doing well.The lady at the hardware store said lime would be a good idea and I have given them feed spikes what do you think about the spikes?
Thanks,
Peter ... Posted by LarryR (from South Amana, IA) on March 31, 2008 at 6:29 PM: Hi Toni--Thanks for another informative article. May I share a lilac story or two with you?
My mother-in-law planted a lilac in her garden when my wife and I started dating in 1959. We left Iowa, never intending to return. However, life is full of surprises, and in 1977 we found ourselves living in my mother-in-law's home. The lilac had matured in the interim and had the most beautiful silvery lilac blossoms I'd even seen. They literally glow at dusk. Soon after our return, my mother-in-law passed away and the property became ours. Fast-forward to 2008: This lilac is now 49 years old and has led a charmed life. It has never been attacked by borers. It has never been pruned (although we do cut out the occasional sucker). The twisted, gnarly branch structure is so beautiful, I just haven't had the heart to cut the old stems out in favor of young shoots. I know full well, as you point out in your article, that one is supposed to do that. The biggest surprise has been that it continues to bloom its head off! To us the blossoms are a bonus. We're happy just to enjoy the branches and the screening they provide from a semi-public walkway that divides our property in half. I can't post a photo here, but I'll D-mail a couple to you so that you can see what it looks like.
The second, much shorter, story concerns my mother. Her favorite place to play as a youngster was inside a large lilac bush, where she was secluded and yet could see what was going on in the world around her. My mother died at age 90 several years ago, but the lilac is still alive at well over 100 years old! It is still growing in the same spot where it was originally planted. However, it no longer blooms. But like me, the current owner doesn't have the heart to trim it either, knowing its long history. She has settled for enjoying its shade and, again like me, its gnarled and twisted branches. Best--Larry ... Posted by cybercrone (from Toronto,, ON) on March 31, 2008 at 8:56 PM:
Hi Toni:
What's the process for transplanting lilacs? Is it easy or do they tend to not transplant well?
I've got one at the house I bought a few years ago, and it gets so little sun that I get maybe 3 blooms on it. I tried hard pruning it, but that didn't improve the situation, but at least no borers found.
Biggest lilacs I have ever seen were on Mackinac Island. I spent a summer there when I was a child and the trees there were apparently brought by the first French settlers and I think were over 300 years old. My dad, who was over 6 feet tall, couldn't put his arms around the trunks. They were still blooming and I think got no real care at all. Amazing - and the scent! that was when I fell in love with lilacs.
Thanks for the article, it gives me some good basic information on the care of my own plant, if I can get it moved.
~marilyn
... Posted by tonileland (from Nashport, OH) on April 1, 2008 at 7:52 AM: Hi Marilyn,
Lilacs are very easy to transplant, depending on size. You didn't say how old the shrubs are, but larger ones take a lot of muscle and extra TLC until they re-establish. Early spring before the bush sets leaf buds is the perfect time to transplant.
If the shrub is large: trim back about 1/3 of the plant so it will focus on growing a new root system. Dig deep and wide to prevent damaging as much of the root system as possible. Do NOT shake off the excess soil. Take care not to damage the roots as you move it to the new location; i.e., don't drag it across the ground--use a garden cart or similar.
Replant in a hole twice as wide and deep as the root ball. Before placing the shrub, mix in plenty of compost.
Keep the crown of the plant at soil level and begin filling the hole. Do not tamp down the soil, but "water in" to help the soil settle through the roots.
Deep-water regularly for 3-4 weeks; keep soil evenly moist, but not wet.
Don't expect flowers for at least the first year after transplanting.
Good luck, and please let me know how you make out! Toni
... Posted by tonileland (from Nashport, OH) on April 1, 2008 at 10:32 AM: Gamekeeper: sorry, I missed your question about fertilizer spikes.
The lime is a good idea if your soil is too acid; the correct pH for Lilacs is neutral to mildly alkaline--6.6 to 7.8
You didn't say what strength the fertilizer spikes are; over-fertilizing lilacs is a common cause of non-bloom. Fertilizers too high in nitrogen will cause this. Check the ratio on the package. ... Posted by lovedirtynails (from Portland, OR) on April 2, 2008 at 9:23 AM: Thanks for the article - very helpful! We just moved into a house with some pretty mature landscaping. One of our lilacs is surrounded by a house wall on one side and a concrete pathway on another. It's really cramped! It is just breaking bud - can't wait to see if it blooms. I might try to transplant it next spring since I think I missed my opportunity this year.
I do wonder if it's worth it, though. There are so many nice varieties out now - maybe I should just invest in one of those and (gulp) dispose of the old one.
... Posted by Pyewacketcat54 (from Fort Worth, TX) on April 7, 2008 at 8:30 AM: Your articles on Lilacs are just what I needed, I bought a house(1925) from the original family,and from what they told me there is a lilac in the front yard that has been here for about 28 yrs.The 4 years I have been here,I have seen a couple of blooms,but it is in the northwest corner of the lot,and only gets mid to late sun,because of the trees.It didn't bloom this year,so I guess it is time to do something.It's only about 5 ft. high,and maybe 3ft in diameter.Should I move it,or just try to prune it's,been let go so long,it does have a lot of stems from the ground.I'm new at this,and don't want to kill it.The lady that owned the house loved her yard,and in her later years,it went by the wayside from neglect.I'm trying to keep what I can as she had it.She's gone now,but I think her spirit lives on here....thanks.Becki ...
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