Any hope for Lilac

imported_carol · 04-25-2006, 02:58 PM

While in the garden today the neighbour called out asking me if I wanted a Lilac tree. I said yes and went over to get it, unfortunately her son had dug it up very close to the trunk and consequently there were very few roots on it. It's about eight feet tall, not out in leaf yet but has the leaf buds on it ready to open. I planted it and watered it in well, but don't know if it will survive given the lack of roots. Anyone know if there is any hope of it surviving.

Newt_ · 05-01-2006, 01:15 AM

Hi Carol,

Best you can do is scratch in some phosphorus and topdress with compost to stimulate root growth. Don't use any fertilizer with nitrogen as lilacs will grow lots of leaves at the expense of blooms. They also prefer a more alkaline soil so you might want to scratch in a cup of lime too.
http://www.loudzen.com/garden/soil/phosphorus.html

If you want lilac growing info, just let me know. Good luck!
Newt

imported_carol · 05-15-2006, 04:43 AM

Thanks Newt, I did put some compost in and it is coming out in leaf so maybe there is hope after all. As for the lime, our soil is naturally acidic and this lilac is what we call the old fashioned kind and they grow really well in our soil.

Newt_ · 05-15-2006, 03:38 PM

Carol, you are very welcome! I'm sure that the lilacs grow quite well in your acid soil, but if you want flowers lime will be helpful. I inherited a beautiful lilac and it didn't bloom for 10 years. Then I read about the lime and the following year I had flowers! Here's some sites that should be helpful.
http://www.heardgardens.com/basicsforlilacs.htm
http://spi.8m.com/care.htm
http://lilacs.freeservers.com//lilac_tips.html
http://gardencenter.southernstates.com/lawn_garden_faq/lilactree.shtml

Newt

imported_carol · 05-17-2006, 10:18 AM

Hi Newt, thanks once again for the info. There are a couple of dried up and dead blooms on the tree from last year so it has bloomed. However I will scratch some lime in the ground around it.

Newt_ · 05-17-2006, 01:29 PM

Carol, again you are welcome! I just adore the scent of these flowers. When I was a little girl I lived in a house with a lovely lilac just outside my bedroom window. I would open the window in the morning and it was a wonderful way to start my day.

Newt

imported_carol · 05-18-2006, 05:49 AM

Yes, beautiful smell, brings back memories of my childhood as well.

luis_pr · 06-23-2006, 12:16 PM

Some time has passed and I am curious as to how is the lilac doing. Are you having to water more often now? as we get closer to the summer heat? The heat and lack of a "big" root system might force you to keep an eye on soil moisture levels more than 'normal'. Luis