Lilac bushes are a favourite among gardeners who love the fragrant blooms of these plants. Know some tips on growing these fragrant flowers.
Lilac is known for its fragrance and attractive blooms. It is one of the most beautiful shrubs to plant in your garden. Lilac flowers bloom from mid spring to mid summer. They are grown as border bushes in gardens and the leaves add to the grand look even after the blooms are spent.
How to Grow It
It is very easy to plant seedlings of these flowers. You can get bare root stocks or seedlings planted in pots from nurseries. When you get home one of these plants, you need to place the bare roots in a bucket of water as you dig a hole that is twice the size of the root bulb.
You should choose a site that is sunny and receives at least 6 hours of sunshine everyday. The depth of the hole should be about 1 to 2 inches deeper than the root ball.
See that the soil is well-aerated. These plants can grow in any kind of soil. So you can add a small amount of sand, peat moss or compost to help in soil aeration. This will also help in retaining moisture and adding nutrients to the soil. Place the bush in the center of the hole and fill it with the gravel-compost-soil and tap down.
Pour water over the filled hole gently and spread mulch over the root base forming a layer 3 to 4 inches thick. Water the plant regularly and make sure the soil is moist in the dry season. By next spring, the plants will be well-established with proper care.
Care
Lilac bushes are some of the hardiest bushes you will find while gardening. They can survive a temperature of -50ยบ F and can endure on their own without any care. Begin with minimal care to keep the shrubs healthy for years.
You need to use pruning shears for removing damaged and diseased branches. You should prune the bushes in late fall or winter, during the dormancy period. After the last flowers fade away, you can prune the bushes to shape them.
Mulch should be replaced annually, as it helps in maintaining moisture, controlling weeds, and rendering a consistent temperature to the root system. You need to water the plant during periods of drought.
Fertilizers should be added only if the bush is not growing vigorously. Add the fertilizer once every three or four years. Also, remove the fallen leaves and branches from the bush base regularly to avoid decay.
Varieties
The most beautiful and attractive bush is probably the Chinese lilac. It is a large, round-headed shrub that works as a border or screen plant. It produces flowers in early May. The flowers are purple in color and bloom in bunches that are 4 to 5 inches long.
The White Persian is a popular variety of dark green foliage with creamy white flowers. This is a compact bush, perfect for a small garden. The 'James Macfarlane' lilac is one of the most cold-hardy of all types. The blooms are seen in early June and are pink colored. They have elegant bushes that are upright and good as screen plants or border plants.
Lilac bushes are extremely easy to care for and need no extra attention. You will love the fragrant, colorful blooms in your flower garden.