When is the best time to prune lilac?

Lilac pruning effect

For lilac, criss-crossing branches, ugly tree shape and sparse flowers will seriously affect its ornamental value. If you want the lilac to maintain its beautiful shape for a long time, you need to prune it in time and master the correct pruning method.

Lilac Pruning Time

Before lilac sprouts, it needs to be shaped and pruned to remove dense branches, thin branches, diseased and insect-infested branches, and cut back the vigorous growing branches to increase light transmission and ventilation. After the flowers fade, the remaining flowers and the two buds at the bottom of the flower spike can be pruned off to help it sprout new branches and form flower buds. After the leaves fall, it can be pruned once more to facilitate growth and flowering in the following year. Pruning is required three times a year.

Propagation of lilac by cuttings

The best time for lilac cuttings is generally in July and August each year. Some flower lovers also do cuttings one month after the flowers wither.

How to prune lilac

Lilac needs to be thinned out in time to maintain its tree shape and growth momentum, and help it grow and bloom better. Generally, thinning is done after the leaves fall, mainly to remove diseased and insect-infested branches, dense branches, dead branches, weak branches, overlapping branches, and overgrown branches that affect growth and appearance. The weak side branches under the main branches need to be cut off completely, and aging, diseased, and insect-infested branches should also be cut off.

When pruning lilac, it should be done lightly, and dense branches should be thinned out on plants that are not needed for seeds to increase ventilation and light transmittance. Pruning should not be done after the flowering period. After the flowering period, if seeds are not to be retained, the remaining flowers and the two buds at the bottom of the flower spike can be trimmed off to increase the amount of flowering in the following year.

Tips for pruning lilac

Lilac has excellent ornamental effect and is suitable for indoor maintenance. It can play a good decorative role, but pruning work is required during the growing period. Pinch and top the branches in spring, trim the remaining flowers after flowering, and thin the branches in time after the leaves fall. This will help the lilac grow and bloom better.