On a warm summer's evening, imagine smelling the scent of lilacs through your screen.If you give them plenty of water and plant them in full sun, they will grow.There are over 100 species of lilacs, all of which grow as bushes or trees and produce fragrant flowers.Learn how to grow and care for lilacs.
Step 1: You can choose the bushes to plant.
You can pick out a variety of lilac at a nursery.Pay attention to the height of the plant.Palibin' and Superba lilacs grow into 5 to 6 foot bushes.Some trees, such as Syringa reticulata, can grow to 30 feet.Plants can be purchased from a local nursery or mail order plant company.Your local garden center or nursery should be able to recommend varieties that do well in your area.You can transplant runners from a friend's bush.When leaf buds begin to form or when the newly opened leaves are still small, it's a good time to dig up and transplant lilac bush saplings from a friend or neighbor.You can choose saplings that are at least 12 inches tall.Use a shovel to dig the plants out of the ground.The shovel blade can be used to cut the runners.
Step 2: Pick a spot to plant the flowers.
A spot that gets at least 6 hours of sun each day has good air circulation and is a good place to grow flowers.Lilacs are prone to disease if they are grown in damp stagnant air or without enough sunshine.The soil needs to be well drained.Before planting, make a mound or raised bed for drainage.Do not plant lilacs too close to a wall or tree.There is room for the roots to spread out.
Step 3: The lilacs need to be prepared for planting.
If you are planting a lilac, soak the roots in water for 10–15 minutes.To loosen the root ball, use your fingers to separate the roots.
Step 4: The lilac can be planted in the spring or fall.
If you dig a hole deep, you can bury the roots.At ground level, the base of the plant should be.Before filling up the rest of the hole, fill it halfway with soil and then water it.Even with the natural flare at the bottom of the base, bring the soil level up.The plant could be killed by covering the base beyond this point.Adding compost, bone meal, orfertilizer to the hole is a good idea if the soil you live in isn't very rich.You can use a soil testing kit to find out the pH of the soil.The neutral to slightly acidic pH of 5 to 7 is preferred by the Lilacs.Sprinkle lime on the soil if it is too acidic.You should apply every 3 to 5 years.If you're planting more than one bush, make sure the holes you dig are at least 5 feet apart.
Step 5: Keep your plants watered.
When your region gets heavy rain, you can only water a few times a week.Water from the base of the plants and allow the ground to dry out before you water again.
Step 6: It's a good idea to fertilize lilacs in the spring.
In the spring, use compost or a balanced, all-purposefertilizer.When the flowers begin to open, you may want to fertilize them again.
Step 7: Prune lilacs often.
At the end of winter or after flowering in late spring, cut off some of the oldest, largest branches as close to the ground as possible.To open the bush up, take branches from different areas.Don't remove more than 1/3 of the branches at a time.As soon as you discover the sick or damaged branches, remove them.The plant can put resources into forming seeds if the dead flowers are cut off.In the fall, remove branches with low flower production if you want to shape the bush.
Step 8: When the blossoms are mature, cut them.
When their color and scent are their strongest, cut them right at their peak.They will last as long as possible in your arrangement.Place them in a vase of water.
Step 9: There are dry lilacs hanging upside down.
You can bind the stems with a rubber band.Hang them upside down in a dark place for a few weeks.The rubber band should be removed when the lilacs are completely dry.It is possible to dry lilacs using a gel.The container should be filled with an inch of gel.If you want to make sure the stems stand up in the gel, place them in a container.If you fill the rest of the container with gel, it will cover the lilac.Put a lid on the container and wait for the lilacs to dry.You can use them in a flower arrangement if you remove them from the jar.