How and when is best for trimming lilac bushes?

check out these web sites:


http://landscaping.about.com/od/shrubsbu...


http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extnews/hortisc...


http://www.helpfulgardener.com/lilacs/03...





Once lilac bloom, they should be pruned a bit each year and blossoms deadheaded. But when deadheading. ..timing is everything!





I guess, the rule of thumb for removing spent blossoms on spring or early summer flowering shrubs applies just as well to the other shrubs I have that flower at the same time as lilacs: They can be pruned back immediately after blooming. (BTW: There are two schools of thought on this among lilac growers. Some say prune. Others don%26#039;t and find they get just as many blooms the following season. ) So, I guess it%26#039;s ultimately up to you. You%26#039;ll just have to experiment.


If you do prune or deadhead, it may improve the plant%26#039;s vigor and prevent it from growing seed. That may encourage bud formation for next season after you prune. Remove only the spent buds (don%26#039;t go back any further on the branch than that), and use hand pruners! You have more control over what you%26#039;re cutting and you don%26#039;t run the risk of cutting off next year%26#039;s potential blossoms. You%26#039;ll also want to do some trimming of old wood or just for shape and to increase air circulation.





For a whole bunch of lilac info I highly recommend reading the following:


http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/...


Or do a search for %26quot;Pruning Lilacs%26quot;


Hope some of this helps!

How and when is best for trimming lilac bushes?
You want to chop off one third of the main stems each year just after the shrub finishes blooming
Reply:The rules are the same for all flowering plants. You cut them back after they flower and you are more likely to get blooms the next year if you let them grow thru the summer. If you are just removing the spent flower trusses just cut them off. If you are trying to make the plant smaller take part of the stem. Remember that if you want a 6 foot hedge and they grow 2 feet in a summer you will want to cut them back to 4 feet. You can cut lilac with a hedge trimmer and they will do fine and it will save you time if you have a big hedge, much easier than doing it with a hand clipper. Good luck.
Reply:any time you have a sharp knife and time
Reply:before they bloom/after they go dormant, so in the fall or early spring before they start budding.
Reply:Prune right after blooming is over. In addition to branch pruning, cut the dead flowers off when they%26#039;re done blooming. This will prevent the seed from forming and thereby promote more profuse flowering the next spring
Reply:You can do it in the fall or early spring.
Reply:when i bought mine the sales lady said in the early fall trim them down like an inch from the tip. she said this will promote better growth and more budding next spring because she said the bud from the wood.. this is what i was told this year ( i have a baby lilac bush) i have not done it yet. if you want im sure you could stop by a green house and ask questions about it they would be able to help you best i suppose.
Reply:I trimmed mine down last year and thought it died this year so I had cut it all of the way down and it grew back, fast! So I am not sure if it really matters or not .. but those things do get B I G
Reply:Fall is the best time to trim them. If you trim them in early spring they won%26#039;t produce flowers for that season.
Reply:dont cut all the stems and here is a website below!! enjoy and good luck with the gardening....



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