When To Prune Lilacs
When To Prune Lilacs
Fragrant Lilacs
Lilacs are beautiful, fragrant shrubs that produce clusters of blooms in shades of pink, purple, white, and blue. These hardy perennial shrubs are relatively low maintenance, but they do benefit from occasional pruning to promote healthy growth and encourage abundant flowering. Here’s what you need to know about when to prune lilacs.
(Featured Image: Lilac by L. Moloney)
This blog contains affiliate links to some of our favorite products. We may earn a small commission from purchases made through these links.
Fragrant Lilacs
Lilacs are beautiful, fragrant shrubs that produce clusters of blooms in shades of pink, purple, white, and blue. These hardy plants are relatively low maintenance, but they do benefit from occasional pruning to promote healthy growth and encourage abundant flowering. Here’s what you need to know about when to prune lilacs.
(Featured Image: Lilac by L. Moloney)
This blog contains affiliate links to some of our favorite products. We may earn a small commission from purchases made through these links.
When To Prune Lilacs
The best time to prune lilacs is in the late spring or early summer, after they have finished flowering. Pruning too early or too late can result in reduced blooming the following year, so it’s important to get the timing right.
Pruning in the spring allows you to remove dead or damaged wood and shape the plant before it sets new growth for the season. You can also remove any old wood that is crowding the center of the plant, as this can impede air circulation and encourage disease.
If you need to do more extensive pruning, such as removing large branches, it’s best to wait until the plant is dormant in the winter. This will reduce stress on the plant and give it time to recover before the growing season begins again.
Choose The Right Tools For The Job
When pruning lilacs, it’s important to use sharp, clean tools to avoid damaging the plant. You’ll need a pair of pruning shears for small branches and a pruning saw for larger ones.
Choosing the right pruning shears will greatly reduce the amount of effort needed to complete this task. For smaller branches and twigs, we recommend these shears by Fiskars. We’ve used this exact model for many years now, and the shears continue to stay sharp and are effective in removing dead branches and twigs from our lilac bushes.
If you are removing larger branches and limbs, you’ll want to invest in a pair of loppers. We love this lopper by Fiskars. We have also had this product for many years and have been impressed by its durability. Additionally, this lopper features extendable handles which greatly increase leverage when removing particularly strong branches.
When To Prune Lilacs
The best time to prune lilacs is in the late spring or early summer, after they have finished flowering. Pruning too early or too late can result in reduced blooming the following year, so it’s important to get the timing right.
Pruning in the spring allows you to remove dead or damaged wood and shape the plant before it sets new growth for the season. You can also remove any old wood that is crowding the center of the plant, as this can impede air circulation and encourage disease.
If you need to do more extensive pruning, such as removing large branches, it’s best to wait until the plant is dormant in the winter. This will reduce stress on the plant and give it time to recover before the growing season begins again.
Choose The Right Tools For The Job
When pruning lilacs, it’s important to use sharp, clean tools to avoid damaging the plant. You’ll need a pair of pruning shears for small branches and a pruning saw for larger ones.
Choosing the right pruning shears will greatly reduce the amount of effort needed to complete this task. For smaller branches and twigs, we recommend these shears by Fiskars. We’ve used this exact model for many years now, and the shears continue to stay sharp and are effective in removing dead branches and twigs from our lilac bushes.
If you are removing larger branches and limbs, you’ll want to invest in a quality pair of loppers. We love this lopper by Fiskars. We have also had this product for many years and have been impressed by its durability. Additionally, this lopper features extendable handles which greatly increase leverage when removing particularly strong branches.
Fiskars Bypass Loppers https://amzn.to/3JeIXpC
How To Prune Lilacs
Step 1: Cut Back Old Wood
Lilacs bloom on old wood, meaning the growth from the previous year. To encourage new growth and bigger blooms, it’s important to cut back any old, woody stems to the ground. This will also help to keep the shrub from becoming too large and unwieldy.
Step 2: Remove Suckers
Lilacs can also produce suckers, which are new growths that emerge from the base of the plant. These can take energy away from the main plant, so it’s a good idea to remove them as soon as you see them.
Step 3: Deadhead
After the main flowering period, you can also deadhead spent blooms. This will help to encourage new growth and potentially another round of blooms later in the season.
Step 4: Prune For Shape
Finally, you can also prune lilacs for shape, removing any branches that are crossing, rubbing, or growing in awkward directions. Always make your cuts just above a bud or branch junction to encourage new growth.
Lilac ‘Miss Kim’ by F.D. Richards
How To Prune Lilacs
Step 1: Cut Back Old Wood
Lilacs bloom on old wood, meaning the growth from the previous year. To encourage new growth and bigger blooms, it’s important to cut back any old, woody stems to the ground. This will also help to keep the shrub from becoming too large and unwieldy.
Step 2: Remove Suckers
Lilacs can also produce suckers, which are new growths that emerge from the base of the plant. These can take energy away from the main plant, so it’s a good idea to remove them as soon as you see them.
Step 3: Deadhead
After the main flowering period, you can also deadhead spent blooms. This will help to encourage new growth and potentially another round of blooms later in the season.
Step 4: Prune For Shape
Finally, you can also prune lilacs for shape, removing any branches that are crossing, rubbing, or growing in awkward directions. Always make your cuts just above a bud or branch junction to encourage new growth.
Lilac ‘Miss Kim’ by F.D. Richards
Tips For Pruning Lilacs
Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your lilac pruning:
- Prune regularly to promote healthy growth and abundant flowering.
- Avoid pruning in the fall, as this can stimulate new growth that is vulnerable to frost damage.
- Don’t be afraid to cut back old wood if it is crowding the center of the plant.
- Use sharp, clean tools to avoid damaging the plant.
- Don’t remove more than one-third of the plant in a single pruning session.
Prune Lilacs For Growth
Pruning lilacs is an important part of maintaining these beautiful shrubs. By pruning at the right time and using proper techniques, you can promote healthy growth and abundant flowering. Remember to use sharp, clean tools and don’t be afraid to cut back old wood if necessary. With a little care and attention, your lilacs will thrive and provide years of beauty and fragrance.
Trimmed ‘Common Lilac’ by F.D. Richards
Tips For Pruning Lilacs
Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your lilac pruning:
- Prune regularly to promote healthy growth and abundant flowering.
- Avoid pruning in the fall, as this can stimulate new growth that is vulnerable to frost damage.
- Don’t be afraid to cut back old wood if it is crowding the center of the plant.
- Use sharp, clean tools to avoid damaging the plant.
- Don’t remove more than one-third of the plant in a single pruning session.
Prune Lilacs For Growth
Pruning lilacs is an important part of maintaining these beautiful shrubs. By pruning at the right time and using proper techniques, you can promote healthy growth and abundant flowering. Remember to use sharp, clean tools and don’t be afraid to cut back old wood if necessary. With a little care and attention, your lilacs will thrive and provide years of beauty and fragrance.