Mid-Atlantic Gardening: Scented plants, only the nose knows!, 1 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
I have a really old, French double Lilac bush. I never feed it or anything.....

It blooms reliably and OK every Spring--but has a lot of old stems that i am trying to remove at the base in order to rejuvenate the shrub.
It does not get all that much direct sun, as my huge Maple tree, and my neighbor's trees shade it from the sun. That may be one of the problems.....

WHAT should I fertilize it with? I know Lilacs like alkaline soil. I think it just needs a "shot in the arm" for more blooms....
How about Espoma "Plant Tone"? That is supposed to be good for general fertilizing. I use ALL the Espoma "Tones" for my garden...they are organic.

Here;s a picture from last Spring.....