Lilacs are a relatively new plant in my garden, as I wasn’t sure they would prosper in northern California. They prefer zones 3-9 and we’re on the edge of that range at 9.
I’ve had my plants for nearly 3 years and what I have learned is that they prefer nearly full sunlight in the Napa Valley. I originally had them in a shady spot and they were definitely not happy – very few flowers or growth. I cleared out some of the tree branches that were blocking their sunlight last fall and they did wonderfully this spring.
I ran across a few suggestions from Gardener’s Supply who recommended the following ideas if you want your lilacs to thrive. I didn’t realize that lilacs need to be pruned, so I will be doing that this year!
- Prune at the right time: Flower buds are formed the previous year, so don’t prune until after the lilac has bloomed – and do it before the 4th of July.
- Provide plenty of sun: Lilacs are best with at least six hours of sun a day. If your lilac is in a shady site, consider repositioning it to a sunny location.
- Avoid high nitrogen: If you are using high nitrogen fertilizer in the vicinity of your lilac, you may end up with lots of foliage but few blooms. Be very careful applying fertilizer, or avoid it altogether.
Lilacs are a fantastic addition to my garden and I may be tempted to find more room in my garden for another one of these beauties. Just check out Spring Hill’s choices for some beautiful varieties and inspiration.
