Lilac withered - This care work is due after flowering (Syringa)

Lilac has faded - now it's time to prune

Always cut lilac after flowering

The common lilac (Syringa vulgaris), in contrast to the buddleia (with which it is often confused), always blooms on the shoots of the previous year or two years. These are branches that have already set the flower buds in the previous year. Since this happens shortly after flowering, a lilac bush should not be cut back either in autumn or in early spring. Instead, pruning immediately after flowering reduces the risk of removing valuable flower buds.

Cutting lilacs - this is how it's done

Lilacs do not have to be cut back too much, just thinned out and freed from dead, overaged and weak shoots. This maintenance pruning can be done annually and ensures that the shrub is rejuvenated again and again, does not age and therefore grows lush and develops as many flowers as possible. In any case, Syringa should not be pruned too much if it is not necessary: Then it gets into stress and it only drives out all the more root runners that are difficult to remove.

Cut lilacs properly

Cut back only immediately after it has faded
use clean and sharp tools
Cut out what has faded
also dead, dry and diseased branches
remove inward and cross-growing shoots
weak branches with only a few leaves also
Cut away old, no longer blooming shoots
as well as root runners

When cutting, make sure to remove the branches and shoots directly at the roots and not leave any knobs. In addition, scissors should only be used on dry and warm days so that the wounds can dry quickly.

What should also be done after flowering

After pruning, supply the lilac with a shovel of ripe compost and a handful of horn shavings. (€ 6.39 at Amazon *) Then the shrub can recover faster from the intervention and develop new shoots.