Last Year I Planted Some Of The New Lilac Bushes…
Evelyn Asked
Last year I planted some of the new lilac bushes that bloom all summer. They had small blooms toward the end of the summer. Do I need to trim the old blooms to keep the plants blooming this year? Or do I just leave them alone?
The Gardener’s Answer
Hi, Evelyn: Lilacs are wonderfully fragrant, sun-loving shrubs. They are considered low-maintenance in terms of care. They require little pruning although they will benefit from having a few of their older branches pruned out every two to three years. This helps increase air circulation and light filtration. As far as removing the old blooms, this is not necessary and will not prevent the shrub from blooming this year. That being said, if you wanted to remove the remnants of last season’s flowers for aesthetic reasons it is perfectly fine and will not hurt the plant. Some of the newer varieties are prolific bloomers, but pruning the blooms of the shrub as they fade will encourage new ones to form. So, to answer your question, it is up to you whether or not you want to remove the old flowers. For future reference you can cut back the flowers as they fade in the spring/summer. Since your lilacs have been in the ground for a year now, they will benefit from a well-balanced fertilizer or compost to add some nutrients back to the soil. Enjoy your blooms!
