Sunday, April 12, 2009

Lilac pruning - seed heads?

I have many lilac bushes on my property, infact one group of them is a regular thicket - I%26#039;m planning to cut out the old dead growth after they have bloomed this season as recommended, but my question is will I do any harm by cutting off the old dead seed heads now, as the plants are just budding out. It will just clean it up a bit, I should have deadheaded more last year but I just cut what I brought in the house. Thanks!

Lilac pruning - seed heads?
Lillacs are pruned after they bloom. If they are pruned now, they are taking a large chance of loosing all the blooms for this year.
Reply:Allowing lilacs to go to seed saps the strength they use to develop the next year%26#039;s buds. The budding is probably mostly for new leaves. Prune immediately after they bloom this year.





The Muse
Reply:yes you can prune Any dead wood without harm.
Reply:You can remove the dead blooms by just clipping them off.





Lilacs set their blooms for the next year immediately after they bloom, so if you are going to trim them up, do so right quick after all the blooms are spent.





I have a lilac that refuses to bloom ... I%26#039;m envious of yours.











Yes, you can safely cut them off ... just don%26#039;t prune back too much until you are satisfied with how the entire bush has bloomed. It is no different than dead heading a rose bush.



dental

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