The roots are similar to tree roots; however tall the tree, the roots are.

Apr 02, If lilac bushes are already too large or becoming unsightly, however, pruning the entire bush or tree to about 6 or 8 inches ( cm.) off the ground may be necessary. Keep in mind that you may have to wait for flowers, as it takes about three years for them to develop once the entire shrub has been cut. When to Trim Lilac Bushes. Jul 08, The general shrub pruning rule is to cut no more than a third of the stems each year.

2  That will help the plant remain constantly vital, with new stems developing as old stems bloom.

There are many likely reasons such as not enough water or sunlight, but at my house the problem is pocket gophers eating the roots of the bush.

Your goal is to have a lilac bush that has somewhere between eight to 12 stems of various ages, all of them between 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Aug 21, If you cut back too far, removing foliage and not just bare stem and seed capsules, you’ll reduce next year’s blooms. In passing, deadheading lilacs, that is, removing the faded flowers and the seed capsules that follow, is a popular but essentially useless task. Read Garden Myth: Deadheading Lilacs Improves Bloom to understand treeclean.barted Reading Time: 2 mins.

As soon as the lilac bush's flowers are dead, trim each flower stem back to the leaves, removing all trace of the flowers.

This step stops the lilac from using its energy to make seeds. Use sharp. Jun 26, Timing is the Decisive Factor in Pruning Lilacs. If you want to have your blooms next year, it is crucial to prune in those first few weeks after blooming ends. Ideally, this is when you would do maintenance pruning each year. But I get so lazy busy, I end up with a ten foot bush Estimated Reading Time: 4 mins.

lilac bush trim back too far