Our family had a big old old lilac tree with a beautiful dark purple double blossom.?

The family home has been sold and the owner said I may get a start from this tree. It is at least 50 yeas old and possible more. Maybe even a bush at one time but now is more like a medium size tree. Where is the best part of the tree to get this start for it to survive and flourish? Thank you for any help that might come my way for this project.

Our family had a big old old lilac tree with a beautiful dark purple double blossom.?
If you want to propagate Lilac by using cuttings, softwood cuttings work best and should be taken before the leaves mature. The cuttings will need to be treated with a rooting hormone and placed in a sand or vermiculite medium. The cuttings should be 8 to 10 inches long. Dip the cuttings in a rooting hormone and then stick them in a sand medium, water, let it drain, but make sure you keep it from drying out. For watering, use an intermittent misting system.Lilacs characteristically develop a nice mass of roots.


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





This next site says softwood cuttings should be approximately 4 to 6 inches long. Pinch off the leaves on the lower half of the cutting. Also remove any flowers. Make a fresh cut just below the point where one or two leaves are attached to the stem (node) and then dip the base (cut end) of the cutting in the root-promoting compound. Insert the cutting approximately 2 inches deep into the rooting medium. Firm the material around the base of each cutting. water the cuttings and medium and let it drain. Cover the cuttings to reduce water loss and then place the cuttings in bright light, but not direct sunlight. Inspect the cuttings daily. Remoisten the rooting medium if it begin to dry. Rooting of most deciduous shrub species should occur in 6 to 8 weeks.





Water is critical to the survival of the cuttings. A cutting has no root system to absorb water, yet continues to lose water through its foliage. The cutting wilts and dies if it loses a large quantity of water. Water loss can be reduced by placing a glass jar over the cuttings or by inserting several stakes just inside the wall of the container and then placing a clear plastic bag over the cuttings and container.


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





Here%26#039;s a forum about propagating Lilacs using cuttings:


http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/...





Another way to get new plants is to dig up some suckers near the base of the Lilac %26amp; replant them. Select shoots which are one to two feet tall. Look for good root systems. Dig deeply to extract as much of the root as possible. The main root will be attached to the mother plant. Use clippers to cut it from the main bush. Plant the new shoot in the location you have selected. Add compost to the soil before planting. Plant three to five shoots in each area. Water thoroughly. Like all transplants, the survival rate is higher if transplanted in cooler weather. Keep the soil around your transplant moist, but not water-logged.


http://www.gardenersnet.com/lilac/lilac0...





Good luck!! Hope this helps.
Reply:In regards to marcoting, if you are in Canada (or are willing to order from Canada) Lee Valley Tools has a wonderful little kit called The Rooter Pot with which to do this. Simply go to thier website, then click on Gardening (at the top) then Propogation to see it.





Good luck, lilacs are my favorite bushes by far!! ;o)
Reply:you may want to try marcoting an older stem... shave the bark of the plant... wrap exposed part of the plant with some damp fertilized potting mix then with plastic wrap tightly and tie both ends with a rubber band or twist ties.... after a few days to a week some young roots should have sprouted from the bark ( you should be able to see it through the plastic)... then cut the stem a few inches below the new sprouted roots and plant as normal ... good luck hope this works



flower