Under The Lilacs

"The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely."

~ Louisa May Alcott

Among the earliest woody shrubs to greet you with May flowers, the lilac has long been a garden treasure. This spring, we are offering a small collection for shipping, with many more hard-to-find varieties to follow shortly. I can hardly contain my excitement for this beloved flower. Sometimes plants pick you. It's all sort of felt like falling in love.

Adored for their heavenly fragrance and deep sense of nostalgia, lilacs are among the easiest shrubs to grow. Lilacs are remarkably cold hardy and low-maintenance. They take their time while becoming established, but after three to five years, with good soil, steady watering, and plenty of sun, they flourish abundantly. The wait is well worth it! 

Fall and winter is one of the best times to get new plants in the ground. They are dormant in this season, giving the plantings time to establish roots and not have to sustain leaves/flowers in the heat of summer while trying to root in the ground. 

When planting lilac, choose a spot with full sun, at least six to eight hours. You can plant as a hedge or focal shrub, but leave room if you plan to place near a building, as most of these shrubs can grow rather large (10-12 feet) depending on what variety you choose. We are also growing smaller varieties that  also can be a better choice for the Southern climates. Miss Kim or Betsy Ross are a couple varieties that do better in the South because they do not require as many "chill hours".

Amend your planting hole with some compost. Lilacs love neutral to alkaline soil (ph 6.5-7). One thing to remember with your flowering shrubs when fertilizing is, too much nitrogen promotes a lot of green leafy growth and perhaps this is why you are not getting flowers. If needed, fertilize lilacs in early spring with a higher phosphorus formula. Next, add a few inches of mulch and water regularly while roots get established. 

One last tip for your lilacs: prune after they are done blooming! This is so important to remember because if you prune in late winter when you prune your other things, like roses and fruit trees, you will not get any lilac blooms. Lilacs set bud for the following year throughout winter to bloom the following spring so avoid pruning after July or you'll be clipping off next year's flowering branches. 

 Happy gardening, Laura