Lilacs

Hi and Good luck at gardening to all!
I am considering at trying to plant another lilac bush, after the first few times have not been successful. Could someone be kind enough to give me some suggestions on how take care of a lilac? Thank you in advance for your instructions and suggestions!
June

Hi June :) LOL that is my mom's name! Of course I will help as much as I can.

Lilacs prefer full sun and good soil, not too acid or alkaline. Being in saturated soil will also kill them pretty quick because of root rot.

I have very heavy clay soil, so it had to be very well-amended before my lilac (common lilac, Syringa vulgare) was planted. It had been in full sun 34 years ago, but the trees have gotten bigger and closer, so it is now in mostly shade, and the flowers are very sparse.

Your member logo doesn't say where you live, but it would be easier to help if we knew. Can you go to your Member page and update it with at least what zone you are in?

Lilacs require a cold period. People who live in tropical climates can grow them, but they don't flower unless they are artificially chilled for a few months. I used to live in AZ, and a few people did that with dwarf lilacs in order to help bring back memories of when they lived in colder climates.

What kind of lilac do you want to grow?

Dear Lupinelover,
LOL to you too. Your mother has a nice name. Was she born in June? I was born in October, but my parents liked the name June.
Did you ever hear of Syringa Bailbelle Tinkerbelle? It
is a dwarf lilac plant which I just ordered from Whiteflower
Farm.
Thanks for tellling me that I should indicate what zone
I am in. I just did that a couple of minutes ago. I am from Philadelphia, Pa. which means that I am in zone 6.

June, had to look that one up. Sounds beautiful, burgundy buds opening to pink flowers, with possible blooms on and off all season! And a spicy fragrance.

As lupinelover pointed out, full sun is very important. I would add that air circulation might help to prevent mildew, if this cultivar is prone to it (?) as are some lilacs. John

June, yes my mother was born in June :) Her mother was born in May, was named May. I was born in July, was named Kathy ;D

I have seen a photo of that lilac, it looks beautiful! A neighbor has one very similar (not sure of the name), it is trained as a standard, and blooms on and off most of the summer. She has had it for 4 years. Incredibly beautiful :)

Mildew can be a problem with lilacs; it causes unsightliness, and may lessen the next year's bloom. Usually doesn't affect the life of the shrub, unless it defoliates early because of a severe attack.

Lilac forms its flower buds during the summer, so any pruning should be done immediately after flowering. With a recurrent bloomer, no pruning needs to be done, except to remove dead branches, or to head off an errant shoot. Pruning causes the shrub to make two new branches where the cut is made, so it can be made bushier by occasional pruning.