How to get lilacs to bloom??

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grakay Palm Coast, FL(Zone 9a) Mar 27, 2007

Not sure if this is the right thread, but I have a friend who has two lilac trees that have not bloomed in two years.

I don't have lilacs, so my experience is null.

Any advice on how to get these lilacs to bloom would be most appreciated.

Thanks for any input.

Gracie

Post #3325819
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bigcityal Appleton, WI(Zone 5a) Mar 27, 2007

Are there any other lilacs that bloom around you? I didn't know they flowered in hot weather. Otherwise the most common problem is pruning them anytime but right after they flower, which causes no buds to form.

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grakay Palm Coast, FL(Zone 9a) Mar 27, 2007

Thanks for your response.

No, there are none in this area, but this is not for me, but my friend who lives in another state.

She was advised to prune them after they flower, but she has had no blooms for two years.

So, I will tell her to leave them strictly alone until they do flower, then prune them.

Gracie

Post #3326563
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heavenlybubbles Kitchener, ON(Zone 5b) Mar 27, 2007

Were these well established plants? It can take up to 5 years for a young plant to start producing flowers (depends on the species of lilac you planted).

Post #3326650
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grakay Palm Coast, FL(Zone 9a) Mar 27, 2007

Yes, according to my friend, these are well established trees. They have bloomed in the past, but in the past two years, haven't.........I will try and find out what species they are, although I doubt she'll know........but won't hurt to ask.

Thanks for your input.

Gracie

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backspace Saint Charles, IL(Zone 5a) Mar 29, 2007

lilacs flower on old wood. Maybe she needs to prune AFTER they have bloomed and feed for the following years bloom. hope this helps backspace

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ice_worm Palmer, AK(Zone 2a) Mar 29, 2007

An old gardener once told me that lilacs need lots of lime in order to bloom. It works for me.

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grakay Palm Coast, FL(Zone 9a) Mar 29, 2007

Thanks for all the input.

She has already been advised to prune AFTER blooming and I rather suspect they have been pruning a lot in these last two years in the Spring, and that's why they haven't bloomed.

I will tell her about the lime, and hopefully that will help the cause.

Again, thanks for all your input.

Gracie

Post #3334610
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Joan Belfield, ND(Zone 4a) Mar 29, 2007

You didn't say what state she was in, but if she's in a state that could have gotten late freezes, that would also account for the loss of the blooms. I haven't had any lilac blooms for a few years either, and it's because we've had such late spring bad weather.

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Xeramtheum Summerville, SC(Zone 8a) Mar 29, 2007

Found this link

When Lilacs Won't Bloom

http://www.gardeners.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Gardeners-Site/default/Link-Page?id=5435

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Post #3334783
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