Grow old-fashioned lilac's and you will enjoy fragrant flowers every spring. This spring-blooming flowering shrub will grow in your yard for many generations provided that you meet it's growing requirements.
I love my lilacs and in the spring when the flowers bloom, the fragrance is wonderful. Over the years I have taken many photographs of my lilac blooms and turned those photographs here are a few.
Know that growing the lilacs and getting blooms such as the ones in the photo card that it will take several years. So I recommend that you buy a nursery-grown shrub to plant in your yard.
Here are some growing tips
- You can grow the old-fashioned lilac as a flowering hedge and it will provide privacy as the lilac will grow to 15 feet in height with a 12-foot spread.
- Select a growing site that offers full sun with well-drained soil. The roots of the lilac are deep and prefer to not be wet so plant on the top of a hill or in an area where the water drains well.
- Plant the old-fashioned lilac
in the spring after the threat of frost has passed.
- If you purchase a lilac from the nursery gently remove it from the container. Hydrate the roots by filling a large bucket with tepid water.
- Set the lilac root ball in the water for a half-hour. While the roots are hydrating prepare your planting site.
- Loosen the soil with your shovel and amend the soil with compost or manure.
- Dig a hole that is the same depth and width as the lilac container.
- Plant the lilac when it is hydrated. Set the root ball in the center hole and fill the hole up with soil.
- Water well.
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| Hand pull weeds then apply 4 inches of mulch |
Caring for Lilacs
- Keep the growing site weed-free.
- Apply 3 to 4 inches of mulch around the base of the lilac. The mulch will help to retain moisture and discourage weed growth.
- In early spring remove the mulch and apply compost or manure around your lilac shrub. This is a natural way to fertilize your flowering shrub.
- Reapply the mulch after you add the compost or manure.
Other Garden Tips
- Remove spent flowers
- Prune or shape annually after the lilac has flowered
- Butterflies and hummingbirds will visit your yard when the lilacs bloom
- Hardy in growing zones 3-7
