How To Grow Old Fashioned French Lilacs from
Seed
If you want to
make your garden the envy of the neighborhood, consider growing old-fashioned
lilacs (Syringa vulgaris), also known as common lilacs. With its green,
heart-shaped foliage and its fragrant flowers that adorn the garden from spring
to early summer, this European native can grow up to 20 feet tall. Once
established, old-fashioned lilacs are low-maintenance and work well as screens
or hedges and their blossoms can double as cut flowers.
Locations for Old Fashioned French Lilacs
Old-fashioned
lilacs are well suited to climates within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant
hardiness zones 4 to 8. To thrive, grow the shrubs in a sunny area of the
garden that exposes them to at least six hours of sun on a daily basis. Avoid
shade, because insufficient light can result in bloom failure. An open area
that allows you to grow the shrubs at least 10 feet apart will do. If you're
growing old-fashioned lilacs as a hedge, maintain a 6-inch distance between the
shrubs.
Soil
Requirements
Well-drained soil
with a pH between 6.5 and 7.0 is ideal for growing old-fashioned lilac shrubs.
A soil test can help determine the needed amendments to reach the ideal pH.
Incorporate limestone into the top 7 inches of soil to raise the pH, or work in
sulfur to lower it. A 2-inch layer of compost tilled into the soil can help
promote drainage. Avoid growing these shrubs in soil that doesn't drain well --
waterlogged roots may result in yellowing of the foliage and wilting of the
plant.
Watering Old Fashioned French Lilacs
During the first
year of growing old-fashioned lilacs, focus mainly on regularly watering the
shrubs to maintain a consistent moist -- not soggy -- soil. Young shrubs that
are deprived of regular moisture can suffer from drought stress, which can keep
them from properly establishing. Once established, old-fashioned lilacs are
more drought-tolerant and only require water during dry, hot periods. Spread a
3-inch layer of pine bark on the soil around the shrubs to promote soil
moisture retention and to suppress weeds.
Fertilizing Old Fashioned French Lilacs
Early on in spring
of the second year before new growth starts, scatter a 5-10-10 fertilizer on
the soil around the old-fashioned lilacs. Evenly spread the fertilizer over the
root zone of the shrubs and water the soil afterward, so the nutrients leach in
and reach the roots of the old-fashioned lilacs. Fertilize the shrubs this way
on a yearly basis. Always use a low-nitrogen fertilizer, because too much
nitrogen can result in foliage growth instead of flower growth.
Pruning Old Fashioned French Lilacs
For the best flower production prune old-fashioned lilac
shrubs yearly, once they're about 5 years old. Prune the shrubs in early
spring, before new growth emerges. Avoid pruning in summer, fall or winter,
because you may end up removing next year's flower buds. Remove flowers as soon
as they wilt to improve the appearance of the shrubs. Cut off and diseased,
dead or broken branches. To revive mature old-fashioned lilacs that have
outgrown their boundaries, cut back one-third of the top growth on a yearly
basis until most of the old wood is gone.