Lilac Companion Plants - What To Plant With Lilac Bushes

Herbaceous peonies and tree peonies (Paeonia) are wonderful companions to lilacs. They are compatible in color, fragrance and form, and make each other look better. Plant peonies at your lilac' foot to hide its poorly clad legs and savor the beauty and pervasive perfume they lavish on those who passes-by.

What do lilacs attract?

The heavily-scented purple flowers on the common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) bloom in late May and attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. The cut flowers are perfect to bring the scent of spring right into your home.

Is Epsom salt good for lilacs?

Lastly, lilacs do not like overly acidic soil. One trick to encouraging them to bloom is fertilizing them with Epsom salts during the dormant period. ... Epsom salts are a good natural fertilizer for lilacs and tomatoes. Add about one cup of Epsom salts to the soil around the drip line of the plant.

What happens if you plant lilac bushes too close together?

There should be no difference in the flowers caused by neighboring lilacs. However, if they're planted too close together two clumps may eventually grow together so that the new variety is mixed with the old.

How close together can you plant lilacs?

Situate the lilac with its roots spread vertically in the ground and make the hole both deep and wide enough to accommodate them. If planting more than one lilac bush, space them at least 5 feet (1.5 m.) apart to prevent overcrowding, even if you plan to use them as hedges for privacy.

Are coffee grounds good for lilacs?

Using Fresh Coffee Grounds

Grow lilacs in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil (at a pH near 7.0). If your soil is in poor condition, add compost to enrich.

Is there a difference between a lilac tree and a lilac bush?

To clear up any confusion, there is no difference between a lilac bush and a lilac tree, they are the same plant just called by different names.

Is Miracle Grow good for lilacs?

To get lilacs off to a nutrient-filled start, improve individual planting holes by blending Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Trees & Shrubs with the native soil in a 50:50 ratio. This garden soil also contains phosphorus and iron to encourage root growth and help prevent leaves from yellowing.

Should I cover my lilac bush?

Lilacs perform well if protected during the winter. Covering shrubs can prevent some of the major types of winter damage, and should be seriously considered by gardeners living in areas where winters are very harsh, or for plants in highly exposed areas of the garden, such as hillsides.

What fertilizer is best for lilacs?

Bone meal is a great fertilizer for lilac bushes. This is because it makes soil more alkaline. It is a natural plant food easy for the lilac to intake. Fertilizing lilacs isn't strictly necessary except after the first and second years of planting.

Do lilac bushes have deep roots?

Since lilac root systems are shallow, they can only reach the base of shallow foundations. If you have a deep foundation, there is little risk of damage.

Can you keep a lilac bush small?

An older lilac may stop blooming if neighboring trees have grown up to cast shade on it. Lilacs need regular renewal pruning to thin them out and control their size. ... Since common lilac is a big shrub or a small tree, growing 8 to 20 feet tall and almost as wide, it can simply be too much shrub for smaller yards.

How much space do Lilacs need?

Here's the first rule of planting: lilacs need lots of space to grow. If you're planting a hedge, they'll need a spot at least seven to eight feet wide and ten feet wide for a shrub. They also need at least six hours of sun a day to have excellent flowering. Provide a well-drained, alkaline soil.

Are lilac leaves poisonous to dogs?

Even though lilac stems, leaves, and flowers pose no health threat to dogs, it is a good idea to keep your dog from chewing on the plant. ... According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, the Persian lilac (Melia azedarach) which is not related to true lilac, is poisonous to dogs.

Will vinegar kill a lilac bush?

Will vinegar kill a lilac bush? Salt and vinegar can be combined to create a quick and easy plant killer, which will effectively dehydrate and destroy any undesired bushes in your yard. Mix 1 pound of salt with 1 gallon of 5 percent acetic acid white vinegar.

When should you cut back a lilac bush?

Most lilacs don't require pruning until they reach about six to eight feet (2-2.5 m.) tall. The best time for pruning lilac bushes is right after their flowering has ceased. This allows new shoots plenty of time to develop the next season of blooms.

Are banana peels good for lilacs?

Organic Lilac Food

Grass clippings and coffee grounds are a good source of nitrogen, but use them sparingly in compost. Banana peels offer potassium to the soil.

Are eggshells good for lilacs?

Eggshells can be added to the soil anytime. Pulverize them and sprinkle them around your lilac bushes, gently turning them into the top few inches of your soil. Take care not to damage any roots and water thoroughly to help leech the eggshells into the soil.

How do you rejuvenate a lilac bush?

One way to renew a large, overgrown lilac is to cut the entire plant back to within 6 to 8 inches of the ground in late winter (March or early April). This severe pruning will induce a large number of shoots to develop during the growing season.

Should you Deadhead lilacs?

You must deadhead the lilacs soon after they finish blooming so you don't accidentally remove the new buds and ruin next year's flower cycle. Cut off the old dead flowers as soon as they begin to turn brown and wither.

How long do lilac bushes live?

1. Lilacs live a long time. Some lilacs shrub varieties can live 200 years, so think about this when you plant them and put them in a place where they aren't likely to be disturbed. Two of the most fragrant are 'Miss Kim' and plain old Syringa vulgaris, the common lilac.

Can I take a cutting from a lilac tree?

Growing Lilac from Cuttings

Take cuttings of lilac bushes from tender new growth in late spring or early summer. Mature growth is less likely to root. Take several cuttings to increase your chance of success. Take cuttings in the morning when the weather is cool and the plant is well-hydrated.