Lilacs - A beautiful addition to any yard
A familiar scent and sight in the spring is lilacs. Lilacs are beautiful flowers that only bloom for a couple of weeks in springtime. These beautiful plants originated in England and Asia with most types coming from Asia. There are over one thousand different varieties of lilacs. They come in several colors, with the most popular being purple, white, pink and, of course, lilac. Some lilacs are smaller, growing to around eight feet wide. Others can grow up to thirty feet wide.
Overall, lilacs are low maintenance. Once they have reached several feet tall they offer shade and privacy from neighboring properties. They will grow the best on elevated areas, hillsides or on level ground where there is good drainage. Their roots are deep and shouldn’t be wet for a long period of time. However, if there is drought, water infrequently, but water well when you do. Don’t plant lilacs in low-lying areas where water can collect and sit for a long period of time.
It is important to keep weeds pulled around your lilacs. Surround your lilac bush with much to keep weeds to a minimum and to retain moisture in the soil. Lilac bushes will grow in almost any kind of soil as well. There is no need to fertilize your lilac bush.
Overall, lilacs are hardy plants. Most insects won’t bother them; however, if you notice that insects have been disturbing your lilac bush, use an insecticidal soap to fight them off. Mice and moles will chew on the bark of the stems at ground level and can kill the bush. This happens mainly in the winter.
There are some plant diseases that your lilac bush may be susceptible to. Powdery mildew occurs during the hot and humid summer months. A simple (and inexpensive) solution to this problem is to mix a half a cup of milk in a gallon of water and spray the bush. If your lilac bush has a serious case of powdery mildew, you may need to cut out infected branches and then treat the rest of the bush using the milk and water mixture.
When your lilac bush begins to outgrow an area, you can cut out part of it and replant somewhere else. Find shoots growing out of the main clump and dig down far enough to expose those roots. Cut between the main plant and this new “offshoot”. Plant this piece in the same type of soil as your original bush.
Growing and maintaining lilacs is generally easy and worry-free. For more information about these beautiful, flowering bushes, do some research online or contact your local lawn and garden store for more botanical advice.