How to overwinter lilac

Lilac is a perennial deciduous shrub or small tree with flowers usually borne in dense clusters in loose panicles in a variety of colors including white, pink, purple, etc. With their small, fragrant flowers, lilacs are a highlight in the spring garden. Below, I will introduce the wintering method of lilac flowers. Let’s take a look.

1. Keep warm indoors

In the extremely cold regions in the north, potted lilac flowers should be moved indoors in time for maintenance, and the indoor temperature should be kept above 5°C, preferably above 10°C, to prevent frostbite from growing in a low temperature environment for a long time. Although ground-planted lilacs are highly cold-resistant, you still need to keep them warm in winter. Its cold resistance can be improved by watering, cultivating soil, using mulch, etc.

2. Reduce watering

Lilacs grow slowly in winter and their need for water is greatly reduced. Therefore, the frequency and amount of watering should be reduced to avoid waterlogging in the soil and causing frostbite of the roots. Generally speaking, you can water it once every two weeks or so to keep the soil slightly moist.

3. Fertilization management

Lilacs are dormant in winter and do not require fertilizer. Fertilization may cause the soil solution to become too concentrated and cause damage to plants. However, before wintering, you can apply some wood ash or potassium fertilizer to the lilac to improve its cold resistance.

4. Proper pruning

In order to reduce the consumption of lilac flowers in winter, appropriate pruning can be carried out. Mainly prune away messy, old and poorly growing branches to increase ventilation and light transmission between plants. When diseased branches are found, they must be pruned and burned in time to reduce the breeding of diseases and insect eggs.

5. Clean up fallen leaves

After the growing season of lilac ends in autumn, fallen leaves, fruits and other plant residues should be cleaned up in time to prevent them from becoming habitats for pathogens and pests.

6. Avoid wind and cold

The winter wind is very cold. If you place lilac flowers indoors, you should also pay attention to the time of opening the windows. It is best to open the windows for ventilation during the warm noon. Do not open the windows in the morning and evening, especially those facing north, to avoid frostbite caused by the cold wind. Ground-grown lilacs can be protected from the effects of cold winds by building windbreaks or using other wind protection measures.

The above is the wintering method for lilac. Lilac likes warmth and has a certain degree of cold resistance, but the winter temperature should be kept above 10℃ to avoid frost damage. In cold northern regions, lilac flowers should be moved indoors for maintenance, while in southern regions they can overwinter outdoors.