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The ideal soil is a neutral or slightly alkaline loam that's
not too rich. However, lilacs will grow well in all types
of soil, except for one that is acid. If the soil is low in
fertility, add a fertilizer that's low in nitrogen and high
in phosphate and potash. Bone meal is a good fertilizer for
lilacs, and it contains the lime that can sweeten acid soil.
Dig
a hole big enough to accommodate the roots without bending
or breaking them. Work a bucket of peat moss and a cup of
5–10–5 fertilizer into the hole. This will promote
the development of a good root system and hasten the establishment
of the plant. Mix peat moss and fertilizer with the soil throughout
the area. Good soil preparation will aid in producing an attractive,
heavily flowering plant.
Set
the plant 2"–3" deeper than it grew in the nursery
(setting it deeper can kill it) and work topsoil in around
the roots. Pour in water, then let it drain away. Fill in the
hole to ground level with more topsoil.
Use
a 3"–4" mulch of leaves or hay around the plant in
the fall to keep moisture in and prevent heaving—the
alternate freezing and thawing of the ground. Heaving can
kill the plant after the soil settles; the level around the
plant should be even with the surrounding ground. Allow 6'
of space or more between most lilac plantings.
Care and maintenance
Lilacs require a minimum of care. They seldom need supplemental
water, only in cases of drought. If weeds grow around the
plant, pull them out by hand, and then apply mulch. Do not
cultivate around the base of the plant.
Do
not overprune lilacs. Let the plant develop several branches
from the base, instead of only one or two. This way, you can
remove stems that have grown too tall or have been attacked
by disease or insects, and still have flowering wood.
Pruning
is unnecessary for the first few years. Starting in the fourth
or fifth year, limit pruning to the removal of weaker wood
from the center of the bush, which prevents a thicket from
developing. Do this soon after flowers have fallen. Do not
prune in late summer, fall, or winter; late pruning often
results in the removal of flower buds.
Old
bushes with runaway growth will need severe pruning. In such
cases, remove about a third of the height of the plant each
year for three consecutive years, until the old wood has been
cut to about level.
Remove
dead flowers soon after they wither. This helps ensure vigorous
growth for the rest of the season and abundant blooming the
following year.
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