landscaping with lilacs ideas

What plants go well with lilacs?

Herbaceous peonies and tree peonies (Paeonia) are wonderful companions to lilacs. They are compatible in color, fragrance and form, and make each other look better. Plant peonies at your lilac' foot to hide its poorly clad legs and savor the beauty and pervasive perfume they lavish on those who passes-by.

How do you use lilacs in landscaping?

When you plant lilacs in a group of shrubs, plan for a succession of blooms. As each shrub comes into season, the other shrubs in the group appear to recede into the background. Choose shrubs that grow to different heights for a natural look.

What do lilac bushes attract?

The heavily-scented purple flowers on the common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) bloom in late May and attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. The cut flowers are perfect to bring the scent of spring right into your home.

Can you plant a lilac bush next to a house?

Lilac roots aren't considered invasive and as long as you leave enough space between the tree, or shrub, and the structure, there is little risk from planting lilacs near foundations. Lilac roots generally spread one and one-half times the width of the shrub.

Where is the best place to plant a lilac bush?

The ideal spot to plant lilacs is in an area with full sun (at least 6 to 8 hours per day)—give them too much shade and they may not bloom. Lilacs also like slightly alkaline, moist, well-drained soil.

Is there a difference between a lilac tree and a lilac bush?

To clear up any confusion, there is no difference between a lilac bush and a lilac tree, they are the same plant just called by different names.

Which lilac blooms the longest?

Common Lilac is the longest blooming species, lasting for a month depending on cultivar and region. Typically blooming in late spring, it offers the largest flowers with the best fragrance.

Is Lilac an annual or a perennial?

Stachys 'Lilac Falls' is hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 5 and can be grown in locations with full sun to partial shade. It grows 8-12 inches tall and spreads 20-36 inches across. With its flower power and extended bloom time, 'Lilac Falls' is one perennial growers, landscapers and gardeners will surely fall in love with.

Where do lilac trees grow?

Planting

Lilacs thrive in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil (at a pH near 7.0). ...
For strong bloom, lilacs require full sun—at least 6 hours—or they will not flower well.
Make sure the site drains well. ...
Plant in either spring or fall, although the latter is preferred.

Should you Deadhead lilacs?

You must deadhead the lilacs soon after they finish blooming so you don't accidentally remove the new buds and ruin next year's flower cycle. Cut off the old dead flowers as soon as they begin to turn brown and wither.

Are coffee grounds good for lilacs?

Using Fresh Coffee Grounds

Grow lilacs in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil (at a pH near 7.0). If your soil is in poor condition, add compost to enrich.

Should you cut back lilac bushes?

Lilacs should be pruned yearly to develop a good framework of stems and promote vigorous growth that enhances flowering. Yearly pruning consists of cutting diseased, misshapen, and unproductive stems to the ground. I also thin and remove some stems to encourage properly spaced, vigorous growth.

How long does it take for a lilac bush to get to full maturity?

Mature lilacs won't bloom if they do not receive enough sun (at least 6 hours daily) or if they have not been pruned correctly. Young lilacs can take up to 3 years to reach maturity and bear flowers, but once established, they need pruning only to promote flowering, to reshape, and to remove unwanted suckers.

How deep do lilac roots go?

Roots from a lilac bush will generally remain in the top 18-24" of soil but they may spread out a bit (it's a natural tendancy for these plants to colonize an area). I wouldn't be at all concerned that lilac roots might invade a sewer line that is 6-7 feet deep.

Will lilacs grow under pine trees?

Yes, if they have a lot of sun. I grew a white lilac between two cottonwoods (very leafy trees), it has alot of shade, so be careful not to over water them if there is too much shade as they can get white mold on the leaves.

Do lilacs need a lot of water?

Water. Once established, lilacs require irrigation only during periods of drought. To water a newly planted lilac, provide water as needed to keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Avoid dry soil during this time, as dry soil creates drought stress in young plants.

Is Epsom salt good for lilac bush?

Lilacs are dormant in the late fall to late winter. Epsom salts are a good natural fertilizer for lilacs and tomatoes. Add about one cup of Epsom salts to the soil around the drip line of the plant. ... Sprinkle the salts (don't clump them or dump them in a big pile) and work them into the soil a little bit with a rake.

Do lilac bushes spread?

Lilac bushes will typically flower without any effort from you. However, if left to grow and spread on their own, common lilacs will eventually only flower on the tops of the uppermost branches.

Can you keep a lilac bush small?

An older lilac may stop blooming if neighboring trees have grown up to cast shade on it. Lilacs need regular renewal pruning to thin them out and control their size. ... Since common lilac is a big shrub or a small tree, growing 8 to 20 feet tall and almost as wide, it can simply be too much shrub for smaller yards.

How do I get more flowers on my lilac bush?

A lilac bush needs at least 6 hours of sun or more in order to bloom their very best. You can move it or prune back the trees shading it. Be aware that moving it may cause it to not bloom for another entire year so be patient. Also, you might need to thin the bush to make sure sunlight is getting through the foliage.

What is the most fragrant lilac bush?

The lilac usually considered the most fragrant is a Chinese native—S. pubescens. It has small, white flowers tinged with purple. The fragrance is sweet and spicy, very different from the traditional “lilac” scent.