Just watched a good dozen of videos on how to prune lilacs, and this is by far the most educational and complete of all. Easy to understand instructions, good explanation of reasons behind pruning, good visual examples. Looking forward to pruning my lilacs this spring!
Katherine Gayl: Impressive presentation, wasn't it? I agree with everything Katherine said. And I with to add that I appreciate your selection of, and clarity about tools. Michael, Western Arborist.
This is the most informative video I've watched thus far. I LOVE lilacs and grew up with an old unmaintained hedge and I was always to small to harvest the blooms that were only gracing the top. Now that I have an understanding of how to care for and properly manage them, I cannot wait to plant my own privacy hedge of these beauties. Thank you!
I followed this advice and pruned out the oldest canes in 2018, and as of May 2019 its flowering up nicely and closer to the ground instead of 10ft in the air. Very pleased with the outcome.
Oh that was so helpful. We have 'our moms lilac bush' on the farm and has been neglected for a couple decades. Hoping to get it back in shape, and am glad to know that it will take a while. Thank you!!
EXCELLENT ! Best lilac pruning tutorial I have ever seen.. and I have seen LOTS. Now I know exactly what I can do now and immediately after flowering and again next spring. Thanks so much
Thanks! This is the best video I've seen so far on TH-cam on how to prune a neglected lilac. I like how you simply and clearly explain the steps and how the steps are also written on slides in the video. I hope you will post a video of what it looks like this spring. That would show us the effect of your pruning and what to expect. Thanks again!
This is a very helpful video, and was the information I was looking for. This video addressed my situation exactly. Thank you for being clear and demonstrative!
THANK YOU! By far the best educational video ever and appreciate the 2 ways to do it. Mine looks exactly like your demonstration one now trying to decide what to do with cutting all the way down or not. I might just start fresh and be done with it. Because it's always disappointment when they don't grow full.
Very informative video 😊 I brought a young Hungarian Lilac tree & as it's matured it's now 6ft level with the fencing & the same as your's in resemblance, once the flowers have finished I'll dead head them & then trim back lower than the fence, as mines thickening with leaves beautifully.
Thanks for the super clear info on lilac care! Others on youtube didn't come through with such clarity. I'll cross my fingers and sharpen my lopers today and tomorrow get to work.
Thank you...this is very helpful. Now that it's been over 6 years, any chance you could share a picture or video of what the bush looks like now in full bloom?
So helpful! Thank you! I have 4 ginormous bushes (trees actually) in my yard, and this video makes it feel possible to get them under control and restore their beauty.
Thank you for the question. If the allergy is to lilac pollen, you should be able to remove the shrub when it is not in flower, however perhaps a better option is to hire someone else to remove the shrub. Cutting it off at the base will most likely not kill it - it will probably resprout from the crown, so you will need to have the entire root system dug up. Thank you again.
LOL, my uncle trimmed my grandma's lilac's the complete opposite way, I have been managing that for the last couple years. Today I took 3 massive toppings off the lilac tree. It was refreshing to be able to bring it back to a decent height while the sapplings have been growing around it the last couple years. Looks like I did basically what this women said. Good to know!
The way I use to do it is once the blooms have faded, I would shape it during the later part of the summer. The lower part I would gather into a nice looking bush using strong twine or wire. The idea would be to shape it during the summer before the buds for next year would form. I've had success with this method. We've long since sold my parent's home and the lilac bush my mother planted almost 30 years ago is still growing strong. The problem with lilac bushes is that they tend to take up a lot of space once they start getting bigger, but I love the scent.
Thank you. This is what I wanted to know. I inherited an old and ugly GOLIATH lilac; it should hopefully thrive from the series of prunings I'm going to give it!
When I was 8 we lived where there were flowers all about. Lilacs in our yard, rose garden next door, rhubarb and tube flowers across the street. Chestnut trees at an academy down the street. That was in Paris in 1961. We now live in a desert in the Americas.
Thanks, for an informative knowledgeable approach to thinning and pruning a lilac bush. My lilac bushes have not been touched in over 10 years. I will probably cut 3 feet from the ground. Time to get started....
Excellent! Thank you. - this doesn't quite address my situation but i can adapt these guidelines to what i've got; which is 2 shrubs that i cannot seem to identify, though they look like some type of lilac, that are thick on top, bare on all sides and inside, and don't get that tall.
I think the rules that University of Maine Cooperative Extension educator Marjorie Peronto, gave and demonstrated are actually pretty basic and similar to pruning any of your older bushes , trees, and shrubs. Following this advice should work for almost anything. Cutting out by 1/3. seems quite common advice, and the same for getting rid of dead wood altogether, and crossing branches. I also read that lilac sets the blooms for the following spring in about august, but it only blooms on the new shoots growing from a 2 or 3 year old branch. So that is tricky - trying to save the blooms. That's why you can be more agressive without loosing blooms if you prune immediately, or in the very early summer after it's bloomed. A large lilace that grows in my neighbor's yard must be about 15 feet tall, and the same height for one on the north side of my house. Nice, if it were only positioned near a window at that height. Good luck with your unknown!
This is by far the best video on this topic. I feel confident tackling the neglected lilac that came with the house we just bought. One question though. What is meant by "side shoots" when she says to remove dropping branches to healthy side shoots?
@echosierran19 When she says that, the video shows stems running sideways along the ground and outward from near the base. Then they turn upward toward the light.
We had a huge lilac hedge line probably a hundred years old lining our driveway of our old farmhouse on Martha’s Vineyard. We had days of fun running through the trail that was within, all about both white and purple tall lilac trees of about 12’. It was a fabulous jumble of wild flowers and it was exceedingly healthy, like a living organism, that has outlasted their original planters by decades. We did trim it along the driveway. It was beautiful.
Ok, I'm in rural Oregon with older wildish lilac bushes in a field. It's the beginning of March, 2023 tomorrow. I take that I'll have to wait until the end of summer blooms, when they fade?
The video was very good. You said that it's important to keep your tools sharp. What is the best way to do that? Take them somewhere to pay for sharpening or what? Mine get dull so easily? Thank you in advance for your answer!
Thank you for that informative video. I have been neglectful of trimming my three bushes and have noticed that one in particular, a white bush, has mature branches that are bark splitting with what appears to be a grayish white mold or fungus climbing up the branch. I live in Rochester NY and would like to know if there is a way to clean that up and what to use for keeping the soil fertile. This white lilac has no crossing but the bark splitting is becoming more noticeable. Thoughts??Thank you
Sounds to me as if you need to cut those branches out, and quickly, before the fungus spreads to the remaining ones. If you can identify the disease, there may be products to use to eliminate the problem. Good luck.
It is June in Buffalo....can we prune back the lilacs and still have blooms for next year? We don't know much about the large lilacs that are at the side of our house.
Ok, so you didn't mention this, but - do you put anything on the branches that are trimmed back to prevent insects, disease, etc.?? Just curious. Thanks! -
I had a shrub which I kept cutting back every year, never flowered and hardly any leaves produed just scraggy branches. This is a 12 year old shrub. I had no idea what it was. It was below my plum tree which I had no choice but to lop as the tree covered 3 quarters of my garden. The shrub was Nothing, 1ft tall, bare and twiggy. This year it has bloomed! 2ft tall by 3ft wide! Beautiful lilac blossom and scented! That's just 1 year! The area is shaded a lot. Still shaded by the plum tree a little and only recieves direct morning sun for a couple of hours and shaded light through midday to evening. So your statement about regrowing in a few years? WRONG! I have before and after pictures to prove that!
Just watched a good dozen of videos on how to prune lilacs, and this is by far the most educational and complete of all. Easy to understand instructions, good explanation of reasons behind pruning, good visual examples. Looking forward to pruning my lilacs this spring!
Thanks for the info!
Katherine Gayl: Impressive presentation, wasn't it? I agree with everything Katherine said.
And I with to add that I appreciate your selection of, and clarity about tools.
Michael,
Western Arborist.
This is the most informative video I've watched thus far. I LOVE lilacs and grew up with an old unmaintained hedge and I was always to small to harvest the blooms that were only gracing the top. Now that I have an understanding of how to care for and properly manage them, I cannot wait to plant my own privacy hedge of these beauties. Thank you!
I wish I had seen this video before I trimmed my lilac bush!
Agreed❤
Thank you! Best, most clear directions I could find for cutting back my old neglected yet beloved lilac bush.
I followed this advice and pruned out the oldest canes in 2018, and as of May 2019 its flowering up nicely and closer to the ground instead of 10ft in the air. Very pleased with the outcome.
This was such a clear, comprehensive step by step explanation of how and when to prune Lilacs. I appreciate it as it is so very helpful.
Your voice is easy to listen and clear as a bell. The information you give is easy to follow and very helpful. Thank you.
Oh that was so helpful. We have 'our moms lilac bush' on the farm and has been neglected for a couple decades. Hoping to get it back in shape, and am glad to know that it will take a while. Thank you!!
These instructions are very easy to understand! You're a good teacher.
EXCELLENT ! Best lilac pruning tutorial I have ever seen.. and I have seen LOTS. Now I know exactly what I can do now and immediately after flowering and again next spring. Thanks so much
Thanks! This is the best video I've seen so far on TH-cam on how to prune a neglected lilac. I like how you simply and clearly explain the steps and how the steps are also written on slides in the video. I hope you will post a video of what it looks like this spring. That would show us the effect of your pruning and what to expect. Thanks again!
This is a very helpful video, and was the information I was looking for. This video addressed my situation exactly. Thank you for being clear and demonstrative!
Excellent video, by far the best on pruning these plant's ...looking forward to using this information on our Lilacs .
I have 6 massive lilacs that I inherited with my new home and I’ve been battling them every year. This video has been very helpful.
Thanks for taking the time to talk with us .
Very interesting and informative video - exactly the information I needed and not too long to watch. Clear and concise, straight to the point.
THANK YOU! By far the best educational video ever and appreciate the 2 ways to do it. Mine looks exactly like your demonstration one now trying to decide what to do with cutting all the way down or not. I might just start fresh and be done with it. Because it's always disappointment when they don't grow full.
Very informative video 😊
I brought a young Hungarian Lilac tree & as it's matured it's now 6ft level with the fencing & the same as your's in resemblance, once the flowers have finished I'll dead head them & then trim back lower than the fence, as mines thickening with leaves beautifully.
Such a well done video. I and my mother thank you since I am pruning her lilac after it has finished blooming!
Thanks for the super clear info on lilac care! Others on youtube didn't come through with such clarity.
I'll cross my fingers and sharpen my lopers today and tomorrow get to work.
Thanks very much for the info! Very clear and well presented. Just moved into a house with 5 neglected lilac bushes (7 years of neglect I'm told!)
Thank you for such a clear and concise video! I plan on sharing this with my clients.
Thank you...this is very helpful. Now that it's been over 6 years, any chance you could share a picture or video of what the bush looks like now in full bloom?
All of the Maine Extension videos are excellent/ Thanks
I have lots of lilacs that have gotten way too tall, tomorrow, they will be brought under control,thanks to you !!
So very helpful! Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge. Feeling much more confident now with my lilac.
So helpful! Thank you! I have 4 ginormous bushes (trees actually) in my yard, and this video makes it feel possible to get them under control and restore their beauty.
Excellent video! Thank you so much for taking the time and your applied knowledge to create this helpful video.
very clear and complete information thank you, best I have seen so far!
Thank you very much Miss Peronto! Great video and very informative!
Very clear and understandable, thank you! I'll be ready as soon as the flowers fade this year!
Thanks SO much for the close up of the buds!! That is exactly what I wanted to see.
Super helpful, thanks for being clear and concise
Great video, and one that will stay current forever! Thanks for sharing.
Excellent advice on pruning lilacs. TY!
Thank you! This video was very helpful!
So this was super helpful and informative! Thanks =)
Thank you for the question. If the allergy is to lilac pollen, you should be able to remove the shrub when it is not in flower, however perhaps a better option is to hire someone else to remove the shrub. Cutting it off at the base will most likely not kill it - it will probably resprout from the crown, so you will need to have the entire root system dug up. Thank you again.
LOL, my uncle trimmed my grandma's lilac's the complete opposite way, I have been managing that for the last couple years. Today I took 3 massive toppings off the lilac tree. It was refreshing to be able to bring it back to a decent height while the sapplings have been growing around it the last couple years. Looks like I did basically what this women said. Good to know!
Great video! Very informative, thank you. I feel ready to tackle the old lilac in my yard!
Thanks for such an informative video! It would be lovely to see the result of the pruning- that lilac in full bloom!
The way I use to do it is once the blooms have faded, I would shape it during the later part of the summer. The lower part I would gather into a nice looking bush using strong twine or wire. The idea would be to shape it during the summer before the buds for next year would form. I've had success with this method. We've long since sold my parent's home and the lilac bush my mother planted almost 30 years ago is still growing strong. The problem with lilac bushes is that they tend to take up a lot of space once they start getting bigger, but I love the scent.
excellent explanation and demonstration; thank you; for subscribing what other topics do you cover?
Thank you. This is what I wanted to know. I inherited an old and ugly GOLIATH lilac; it should hopefully thrive from the series of prunings I'm going to give it!
Excellent presentation!
You are an excellent teacher (I took notes!). Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!! Nice video explaining exactly what to do and how to do it!
This video is exceptionally clear and useful. Thank you!
This video was massively helpful - thank you!
When I was 8 we lived where there were flowers all about. Lilacs in our yard, rose garden next door, rhubarb and tube flowers across the street. Chestnut trees at an academy down the street. That was in Paris in 1961. We now live in a desert in the Americas.
Thanks for the clear explanations and tips. I would have appreciated watching you do one of each recommended cuts/trims on the tree on the vidoe
Great description of how to prune/rejuvenate an older, neglected lilac.
Finally, I have answers! Very well done. Thank you!!!!
Thanks, for an informative knowledgeable approach to thinning and pruning a lilac bush. My lilac bushes have not been touched in over 10 years. I will probably cut 3 feet from the ground. Time to get started....
Great video and very helpful.
e v e r y d e t a I l! thanks so very much - and what a difference for that lilac!
@acsial - Thanks for the feedback! Glad you find the videos useful.
Excellent video.
Excellent! Thank you.
- this doesn't quite address my situation but i can adapt these guidelines to what i've got; which is 2 shrubs that i cannot seem to identify, though they look like some type of lilac, that are thick on top, bare on all sides and inside, and don't get that tall.
I think the rules that University of Maine Cooperative Extension educator Marjorie Peronto, gave and demonstrated are actually pretty basic and similar to pruning any of your older bushes , trees, and shrubs. Following this advice should work for almost anything.
Cutting out by 1/3. seems quite common advice, and the same for getting rid of dead wood altogether, and crossing branches.
I also read that lilac sets the blooms for the following spring in about august, but it only blooms on the new shoots growing from a 2 or 3 year old branch. So that is tricky - trying to save the blooms. That's why you can be more agressive without loosing blooms if you prune immediately, or in the very early summer after it's bloomed. A large lilace that grows in my neighbor's yard must be about 15 feet tall, and the same height for one on the north side of my house. Nice, if it were only positioned near a window at that height. Good luck with your unknown!
This is by far the best video on this topic. I feel confident tackling the neglected lilac that came with the house we just bought.
One question though. What is meant by "side shoots" when she says to remove dropping branches to healthy side shoots?
@echosierran19 When she says that, the video shows stems running sideways along the ground and outward from near the base. Then they turn upward toward the light.
Exactly what I needed, thank you!
Very helpful video! Thanks!
We had a huge lilac hedge line probably a hundred years old lining our driveway of our old farmhouse on Martha’s Vineyard. We had days of fun running through the trail that was within, all about both white and purple tall lilac trees of about 12’. It was a fabulous jumble of wild flowers and it was exceedingly healthy, like a living organism, that has outlasted their original planters by decades. We did trim it along the driveway. It was beautiful.
Ok, I'm in rural Oregon with older wildish lilac bushes in a field. It's the beginning of March, 2023 tomorrow. I take that I'll have to wait until the end of summer blooms, when they fade?
@edenlinyo - You're very welcome! Glad to know you found it useful.
Is it okay to mulch around lilac bushes?
Great demonstration
The video was very good. You said that it's important to keep your tools sharp. What is the best way to do that? Take them somewhere to pay for sharpening or what? Mine get dull so easily? Thank you in advance for your answer!
This video was exactly what I was looking for...thank you!
Thank you! Very helpful video.
Very well-done and helpful!
Thank you for that informative video. I have been neglectful of trimming my three bushes and have noticed that one in particular, a white bush, has mature branches that are bark splitting with what appears to be a grayish white mold or fungus climbing up the branch. I live in Rochester NY and would like to know if there is a way to clean that up and what to use for keeping the soil fertile. This white lilac has no crossing but the bark splitting is becoming more noticeable. Thoughts??Thank you
Sounds to me as if you need to cut those branches out, and quickly, before the fungus spreads to the remaining ones. If you can identify the disease, there may be products to use to eliminate the problem. Good luck.
Thank you. You've put together a very informative video.
Excellent information! One question though. You mentioned removing "sucker" growing. How do you identify sucker growth vs new growth?
brightonmusic new growth is from old wood. Suckers come from the ground up and distract from the overall "clean" appearance.
Suckers come up from the ground ,not on the old wood, you can recognize them when you see them!
It is June in Buffalo....can we prune back the lilacs and still have blooms for next year? We don't know much about the large lilacs that are at the side of our house.
Ok, so you didn't mention this, but - do you put anything on the branches that are trimmed back to prevent insects, disease, etc.?? Just curious. Thanks! -
Very practical. THX
@mlbdenver1 - Good to hear! Thanks so much for the feedback.
Great video! Thank you!
Belin
Great video!
What is the difference between stimulating young vigorous shoots and pruning out the pencil size shoots?
Great and informative video. Thanks!
Any tips on how to successfully differentiate between flower and leaf buds on lilacs?
I had a shrub which I kept cutting back every year, never flowered and hardly any leaves produed just scraggy branches. This is a 12 year old shrub. I had no idea what it was. It was below my plum tree which I had no choice but to lop as the tree covered 3 quarters of my garden. The shrub was Nothing, 1ft tall, bare and twiggy. This year it has bloomed! 2ft tall by 3ft wide! Beautiful lilac blossom and scented! That's just 1 year! The area is shaded a lot. Still shaded by the plum tree a little and only recieves direct morning sun for a couple of hours and shaded light through midday to evening. So your statement about regrowing in a few years? WRONG! I have before and after pictures to prove that!
amazing explanation!thank you very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great channel!
Excellent. Well explained.
nicely done
big thanks from Alaska
Awesome exactly the info I needed to tackle by snow beaten tree
Thank you so much! very helpful video!
THANKS! Awesome!
@katbyrd - Thanks very much for the feedback!
So what if I want the bush to be tall? Just don't remove the taller stems I assume?
@jkypragora - Thanks so much! Good to know the video's information is so accessible.
Very informative!
Great video.
Oh boy I bought a house with neglected lilacs that have 4" round wood and grew to 12 feet tall. It resembles a vine tree.
Thank you for this information
You need to prune when its finished flowering....done it for years and get lots of flowers
She mentioned that.
Wonderful articles,thank you.
Trudy in United Kingdom
Thanks
Good job.