Lilac

Lilac – more information

Lilac flowers produce a deliciously heady scent during the early summer. Their delicate blooms emit that famous lilac scent, especially lovely as you relax in the garden with a glass of something cold. These hardy, deciduous shrubs work really well as hedging, whilst the specially developed dwarf varieties like the mauve lilac 'Flowerfesta® Pink' are fantastic flowering out of well placed patio containers. 

When to prune a lilac

Prune your lilac straight after flowering has finished. This should be around June but may vary slightly depending on your variety and weather conditions. Only prune your lilac lightly to remove dead, diseased or dying branches; they don’t require heavy pruning. Give your lilac shrub a feed after you prune to boost new and healthy regrowth.

How do you prune a lilac tree?

Prune a lilac tree using sharp secateurs and a pruning saw. Make sure you clean your equipment between different shrubs to avoid the potential of sharing disease. Start pruning your lilac tree by looking at the whole shrub and deciding what kind of shape you would like. Lilac trees don’t need heavy pruning, so only remove branches that are disadvantageous to its position or that are looking diseased. Make sure each of your cuts are clean and slightly at an angle to prevent rot.

When do lilacs bloom?

Lilacs are praised for their early summer colour and scent. Expect to see buds beginning to pop in April and blooms from your lilac tree or shrub ending around June.