Pruning Lilacs
Tips on Pruning Lilacs
Full bushes of fragrantly blooming lilacs in the spring do not happen merely by chance; it is due to the proper technique of pruning lilacs that ensure this heavenly, sweet smelling treasure.
Lilacs come in all varieties and a great range of colorful hues. Some may bloom in early spring; others as late as June. One thing that all lilacs have in common is the need to be pruned. The general rule of thumb is that bushes that flower on old wood are pruned back in the spring, and bushes that flower on new wood are pruned back in the fall.
Old wood is considered to include stems that are at least one year old. Lilacs belong in the old wood category; therefore, pruning lilacs back in the spring immediately after the flowers have bloomed and faded is essential. Lilacs which are routinely left to their own devices and not pruned back will grow unchecked, with all blooms found at the top of the bush and copious foliage at the bottom.
The first step in pruning lilacs is having the correct tools for the job. A pair of hand pruning shears will do the job nicely. The hand pruners should be sharpened to help the job go more quickly and efficiently. If the pruning shears are used on a regular basis, they should be cleaned and sharpened every six weeks or so. With only one or two bushes to prune, one good sharpening per year should be sufficient. Keeping a bushel basket or some other like container to hold the pruned branches will keep your clippings neat and easier to dispose of when finished. You may find a pair of gardening gloves to be helpful, as well; branches can scratch and irritate exposed skin.
With the proper tools for the job, the next step is to know the technique of pruning lilacs. Again, there are some general rules to follow. You will want to start with dead or damaged limbs, limbs that cross over one another and limbs that are over 2” thick. Ridding the lilac bush of these will help it to focus growth on productive areas. Next, concentrate on pruning new growth. The rule of thumb is cut 1/3 or less off the limbs. Too much will cut away next year’s bloom. Each limb may not need pruning; you will need to judge which are in need. Pruning lilacs is not an exact science, and does not require each limb to be cut to the same length. The best pruned bush will have an even amount of old and new limbs.
Maintaining the bushes by pruning lilacs will make sure that there is plenty of energy in the bush to produce blooms on the old wood, while allowing new growth to emerge and mature. By doing so, you will have a more manageable lilac bush size, with the added bonus of profuse blossoms next spring.