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: Choose bushes to plant.
To grow a variety of lilac, visit a nursery.The full-grown height of the plant is important.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 supply company.The 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.Cut the runners with a shovel blade to separate the plants.
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.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.Don't plant lilacs too close to a wall or tree.The roots need room to grow.
Step 3: Prepare the lilacs 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: You can plant the lilac in the spring or fall.
If you dig a hole deep, you can bury the roots.The ground level is where the base of the plant should be.Before filling up the rest of the hole, fill it halfway with soil, 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 is not very rich.The soil's pH can be found by using a soil testing kit.The neutral to slightly acidic pH of 5 to 7 is what the Lilacs prefer.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 15 feet apart.
Step 5: Keep your flowers watered.
When your region gets heavy rain, you can only water a few times a week.If you want the ground to dry out before you water again, water deeply from the base of the plants.
Step 6: In the spring,fertilize lilacs.
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.
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 damage, remove the branches and suckers from the base.The plant will put resources into forming seeds if the dead flowers are not cut off.Remove branches with low flower production if you want to shape the bush in the fall.
Step 8: When the blossoms are mature, cut the lilacs.
When their color and scent are their strongest, cut them at their peak.This will make sure they last as long as possible.They should be placed in a vase of clean water.
Step 9: The dry lilacs are hanging upside down.
Put a rubber band on the stems of the lilacs.Hang them upside down in a dark place.When the lilacs are completely dry, gently remove the rubber band.Dry lilacs with 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.To completely cover the lilac, fill the rest of the container with gel.Put a lid on the container and wait for the lilacs to dry.They can be used in a flower arrangement.