Do you have a lilac bush in your garden? If you’ve ever wondered when or how to prune it, don’t miss this week’s episode. Joanne shares timely tips for caring for lilacs and explains why now is the perfect time to prune.
Tune in for Joanne’s tips for pruning lilacs.
Some of the topics covered in this week’s episode:
The importance of pruning lilacs right after they bloom
Lilacs bloom on old wood, so timing matters. The best time to deadhead or prune is immediately after flowering, usually in June, before the plant puts energy into seed production or begins setting next year’s blooms.
How to rejuvenate older, woody lilacs
Two approaches: a drastic cut-back for very old, unproductive lilacs, or a slower three-year rejuvenation plan where the oldest stems are removed gradually. Remember to use sharp pruners, not hedge trimmers, and be intentional about which branches are removed.
Understanding different lilac varieties and their care needs
Joanne compares common/French lilacs with newer repeat-blooming varieties like Bloomerang, as well as dwarf types like Miss Kim. Even repeat bloomers benefit from deadheading after the first flush so they can produce more flowers later in the season.
Have a topic you’d like Joanne to discuss?
Email your questions and comments to downthegardenpathpodcast@hotmail.com, or connect via her website at down2earth.ca.
Are you a landscape or gardening expert?
We’d love to have you on the show! Click here to learn more.
Find Down the Garden Path on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube: @downthegardenpathpodcast.
Down the Garden Path Podcast
On Down The Garden Path, professional landscape designer Joanne Shaw discusses down-to-earth tips and advice for your plants, gardens and landscapes.
As the owner of Down2Earth Landscape Design, Joanne Shaw has been designing beautiful gardens for homeowners east of Toronto for over a decade. She does her best to bring you interesting, relevant and useful topics to help you keep your garden as low-maintenance as possible.
In Down the Garden Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Your Ontario Garden, Joanne and fellow landscape designer Matthew Dressing distill their horticultural and design expertise and their combined experiences in helping others create and maintain thriving gardens into one easy-to-read monthly reference guide. Get your copy today on Amazon.
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