Comments on: pruning lilacs http://awaytogarden.com/pruning-lilacs Organic gardening inspiration from Margaret Roach Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:46:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Katie http://awaytogarden.com/pruning-lilacs/comment-page-1#comment-73111 Katie Sun, 03 Jul 2011 14:32:22 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/pruning-lilacs/#comment-73111 Hi, Margaret. The bark is basic lilac. Flowers are white. They don't look very shrubby--they have trunks that are about 3' high, and then a mass of foliage at the top. Unfortunately, I don't know the exact variety. Here is a photo of when they were in bloom last month: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/WxvQQYJLrlcj4Hpl4h5RaQ?feat=directlink. Hi, Margaret. The bark is basic lilac. Flowers are white. They don’t look very shrubby–they have trunks that are about 3′ high, and then a mass of foliage at the top. Unfortunately, I don’t know the exact variety. Here is a photo of when they were in bloom last month: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/WxvQQYJLrlcj4Hpl4h5RaQ?feat=directlink.

]]> By: Margaret http://awaytogarden.com/pruning-lilacs/comment-page-1#comment-73099 Margaret Sun, 03 Jul 2011 12:36:07 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/pruning-lilacs/#comment-73099 Hi, Katie. There are tree lilacs, such as <a href="http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=323" rel="nofollow">Syringa reticulata</a>, with bronzy shiny bark and creamy flowers, and then there are shrubbier forms of lilac (from the more familiar species S. vulgaris or S. hyacinthiflora) that include some varieties that are more upright and some more bushy. Need to know what kind we are talking about here. If they were just planted a year ago, whatever they are, the uneven flowering may just have been a result of settling in after transplant disturbance. (I'm more concerned about the one with "little leaves".) Do you know what they are -- flower color? Is the bark anything special or just your basic lilac? Hi, Katie. There are tree lilacs, such as Syringa reticulata, with bronzy shiny bark and creamy flowers, and then there are shrubbier forms of lilac (from the more familiar species S. vulgaris or S. hyacinthiflora) that include some varieties that are more upright and some more bushy. Need to know what kind we are talking about here. If they were just planted a year ago, whatever they are, the uneven flowering may just have been a result of settling in after transplant disturbance. (I’m more concerned about the one with “little leaves”.) Do you know what they are — flower color? Is the bark anything special or just your basic lilac?

]]> By: Katie http://awaytogarden.com/pruning-lilacs/comment-page-1#comment-72542 Katie Fri, 01 Jul 2011 20:12:00 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/pruning-lilacs/#comment-72542 Hi Margaret! I am wondering if pruning a lilac tree is any different than a lilac bush. We have two small lilac trees in front of our house (we bought the house in December…the trees appear to have been planted last year). One tree had lots of blooms and little leaves this summer, and the other was full of leaves with only a few blooms. Can I just cut the branches back to shape the trees? Or are there "rules" for this sort of thing? Thanks! Katie PS-The more flowery of the trees lost a few limbs when a large branch fell on it! I am hoping I can get it replaced…flowering trees are just so beautiful! Hi Margaret!

I am wondering if pruning a lilac tree is any different than a lilac bush. We have two small lilac trees in front of our house (we bought the house in December…the trees appear to have been planted last year). One tree had lots of blooms and little leaves this summer, and the other was full of leaves with only a few blooms. Can I just cut the branches back to shape the trees? Or are there “rules” for this sort of thing?

Thanks!
Katie

PS-The more flowery of the trees lost a few limbs when a large branch fell on it! I am hoping I can get it replaced…flowering trees are just so beautiful!

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