Re: [SG] Lilacs

"Lilacs should be pruned immediately after blooming. Otherwise next
years
bloom is lost if pruned later. "

I don't have any lilac bushes, but my parents have two large ones that
they never touch with anything.  They bloom each year whether pruned
or not.  Last year one was hit by lightening, so I pruned it back.
It's back this year in full force, but so is the other one that was
not touched with blade nor fertilizer.  I've heard (perhaps it's myth)
that lilacs are a pretty good indicator of last frost in that area,
e.g., when the lilacs are in full bloom there will be no more heavy
frosts.  I speak from my experience only.  I'm not a buff
horticulturist like many people I see on this list with whom I am most
impressed.

Denise Holder
Zone 6 (and lilacs are about 3/4 bloomed)
St. Louis, MO

-----Original Message-----
From: B Brown J <BBROWNJ@AOL.COM>
To: shadegardens@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
<shadegardens@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU>
Date: Wednesday, April 14, 1999 7:24 AM
Subject: Re: [SG] Lilacs


>In a message dated 4/13/99 11:21:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
>diehlr@INDIANA.EDU writes:
>
><< With
> lilacs, do you always sacrifice the next year's flowers when you
prune? We
> never feed them either--should we? >>
>
Lilacs like sweet soil. I lime mine twice a
>year, but then, we have very acid soil in New England. By all means
give an
>all purpose fertilizer. Also,after blooming give it some
superphosphate to
>encourage blooming.. Give them as much light as possible. They also
do not
>like plants, grass or weeds growing around them. so keep area around
them
>clean.
>
>Barbara Jones
>Mass
>z5
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