Shrubs - Lilacs
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  (February) My husband would like to know the best time to prune lilac and rose of Sharon.

  Lilacs bloom in the spring, so the flower buds are set on them now. Prune the lilac as soon after bloom in the spring. Rose of Sharon, or althea blooms on the new seasons growth in the summer.

  (October) Last spring, I purchased a butterfly bush twig and a lilac twig from a local store. They both lived and one of them bloomed! I planted the lilac and butterfly bush in large containers with fresh potting soil. The butterfly bush (purple blooms) is gangly but still blooming; the lilac has grown to a little over a foot high and is healthy and green. My question is what to do with them this winter? I would rather not put them in the ground here in Benton since I'm renting. I do have a closed in garage.

  All plants are easier to maintain in the ground rather than in pots, but if your stay is temporary you may want to keep them in pots. One solution would be to "plant" or sink the pots in the ground. Put the plants in large containers, and then dig a hole in the ground. You can actually sink the container in the ground -- with proper drainage holes, it will do fine. The task of lifting the pots after they have been "planted" isn't always easy since roots will escape through the drainage holes and try to peg down, but the bulk of the roots will be contained in the pot, and should be easier to transplant without damage. The plants will also be more winter tolerant and retain moisture better in the ground. Prune the buddleia hard next spring before growth begins, and wait until after bloom on the lilac to do any shaping or pruning if needed. Both would prefer to be outside for the winter, rather than in the garage. If you decide to simply leave them above ground in pots, be aware of temperature changes and moisture levels during the winter.

  (November) I have a small lilac bush that was transplanted as a sprout from a larger bush about four years ago this fall. The next spring it had one cluster of blooms, and has not bloomed since. I talked with a friend who has a large bush -- about 6 feet tall -- and she said hers has never bloomed. What do we need to do to get blooms? This is one of my favorite flowers.

  Although some people have great luck with lilacs in Arkansas, lilacs thrive in cool summers -- which we don't have! When we have an extended cool, moist fall, our lilacs tend to have more blooms the following spring, since they set flower buds in the fall. Lilacs will do best in morning sun and afternoon shade. They like a more alkaline environment, so sprinkle some lime around the plants. Only prune in the spring after flowering. Fertilize then as well with a complete fertilizer, and mulch and water during the growing season.

  My lilac bushes have never bloomed, and they are three years old. They are planted at the edge of my vegetable garden. They look healthy, get full sunlight. Why won’t they bloom? Do I need to fertilize? If so, when?

  Lilacs prefer morning sun and afternoon shade--they are not heat lovers. They actually perform best further north, but they can be grown here, it simply takes more effort. They need a more alkaline environment, so sprinkle lime around the plants now. If possible, move them to a less open area this fall. Keep the plants watered well, and hopefully you can will eventually get some blooms.

  I moved my lilacs from Louisiana to Lake Village three years ago. This is the first year they have bloomed, but not well. The soil here has much more clay than in Louisiana. We also have lots of wind from Lake Chicot. How do I fertilize and generally take care of them?

  I am surprised your lilacs did well in Louisiana. Most lilacs do better in northern climates, suffering from heat and humidity. This is a good season for lilacs, since our summer was milder than normal, with ample rainfall in most of the state. Lilacs do best in slightly alkaline soil, so use lime around the plants. They also need well-drained soil. Any pruning that is necessary should be done immediately following bloom. That would be the time to fertilize as well. Any general fertilizer will work fine. If you are growing them in central to southern Arkansas, you should provide some shade in the afternoon.

  I have an older lilac bush that gets full sunlight, and it has hardly grown at all. I know it is the heat that has done it, so I plan to move it to a shadier location. When should I move it, and are there any precautions to take?

  Move it any time from now through early March. Lilacs are very cold tolerant, but heat is another story. Find a location that gets good morning sun or filtered sunlight. Incorporate some lime in the planting hole. Organic matter amendments in a wide area, will encourage the root system to spread out and should make the plant more drought tolerant. Mulching will also help.

  I would like to know if you can take a cutting from a purple lilac bush and azaleas. When is the best time to do this and can they be set out after rooting?

  Azaleas are much easier to propagate than lilacs. For azaleas, take cuttings from the new growth before it has a chance to turn brown--usually in early to mid-summer. The cuttings should be put inside of a pot filled with moist peat moss or potting soil. Enclose the container in a clear plastic bag and keep out of direct sunlight. They should form roots in three to four weeks. Lilac cuttings should be taken when the new spring growth is four to six inches in length. Since it so new and herbaceous, it will be hard to keep them from wilting. Follow the same procedure for rooting. When you have rooted cuttings you can decide what to do with them. They are typically so small that it is hard to plant directly in the ground. Potting them in containers and sinking the containers in the ground and allowing them to get some more size to them can help. Then in a year or two when they are larger, they can be transplanted to their permanent position in the landscape.

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