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’s foot to hide its poorly clad legs and savor the beauty and pervasive perfume they lavish on those who passes-by.
What is a good companion plant for hydrangeas?
Shade tolerant perennials make excellent partners next to hydrangeas. Some of the best are hostas, ferns, foxglove & coral bells. Many upright hydrangeas create a shady area under their foliage. This is a great location for planting shade-loving hostas.
Where should you not plant hydrangeas?
No hydrangea will do well in HEAVY shade, such as under a shade tree. The blooms will be sparse and will not develop fully. If your landscape is mostly sunny (and hot), you may wish to grow the PeeGee (paniculata) hydrangea, which thrives in all day sun as long as it receives adequate moisture.
Where is the best place to plant a lilac shrub?
Where to Plant Lilacs. 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.
What should I plant next to my lilac bush? – Related Questions
What is the best month to plant lilacs?
The best time to plant lilacs is in the fall after the leaves have dropped, but before the ground freezes. You can plant lilacs in the spring before the buds start to unfold. Spring periods are very short, however, and transplanting at this time is recommended only in areas where winters are very severe.
How close to a house should you plant a lilac bush?
Lilac roots generally spread one and one-half times the width of the shrub. A distance of 12 feet (4 m.) from the foundation is generally enough to prevent foundation damage.
Are lilac bushes high maintenance?
Since lilacs are considered low-maintenance shrubs, the general care of lilac bushes is minimal, with the exception of regular pruning. Although lilacs tolerate a range of soil types, they prefer well-drained, humus-rich soil.
Is lilac a fast growing shrub?
You can expect lilacs to put on around 30-60cm of growth a year. To extend the season of interest, you could try growing a late-flowering clematis through the larger cultivars.
Are lilac bushes low maintenance?
Once established, lilacs are fairly drought tolerant and require minimal care. Plant them in a place where you can enjoy the fragrant spring blossoms. Combine them with summer and fall blooming shrubs and perennials to ensure continuous color in your landscape.
Do lilac bushes spread?
Lilacs readily spread through suckers. If you want to propagate the plant, simply dig around a new shoot and cut it from the main plant, taking care not to damage its roots. Then, replant it in a new location and keep it well-watered until its roots take hold.
How many years does it take for a lilac bush to bloom?
Age: Lilac plants need time to grow before they begin flowering. So, if you have a very young plant, it may not be mature enough to bloom. Most plants start blooming after three or four years but some may take as long as six or seven. The blooms for the first few years will be sparse but should increase with time.
Do you need to winterize lilac bushes?
They can withstand temperatures of -40 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 C) but may need some protection from icy winds that damage the flower buds. To help flower production, lilacs need cold winters to help set next season’s blooms. During the cold season, while the shrub is dormant, not much maintenance is needed.
Can you cut a branch off a lilac bush and plant it?
Rooting Lilacs from cuttings is an easy way to propagate this sweet smelling Spring favorite. Taking cuttings is an age old method of getting more plants from established ones to pass on or keep to expand your own garden. Rooting lilacs from cuttings is a great way to get more of these beautiful bushes.
Is coffee grounds good for lilac bushes?
Best Fertilizer For Lilacs
Fertilizing lilacs with a high phosphorus formula in early spring promotes blooming. Grass clippings and coffee grounds can be used as a good source of nitrogen. Use sparingly, as too much nitrogen in the soil will result in poor blooms.
What do you do with a leggy lilac bush?
As lilacs mature, they can grow leggy and overgrown, with little foliage towards the bottom of the shrub. When this happens it may be necessary for a complete rejuvenation by pruning them to within 12 inches of the ground. This should be done in late winter when the shrubs are dormant.
What happens if you plant lilac bushes too close together?
Spacing lilacs closer also reduces air circulation and makes them more susceptible to diseases, such as powdery mildew.
Is July too late to prune lilacs?
This annual pruning should take place during spring (May or June in the northern hemisphere, around September to November in the southern hemisphere). Such pruning will encourage the development of new buds, which will continue maturing over the year before they bloom the following spring.
How far down should you trim a lilac bush?
Finally, there are a few of rules of thumb to follow when pruning lilacs:
- Trim mature lilac bushes so that they remain within 6 to 8 feet.
- Aim to have 10 to 12 main stems, each of them 1 to 2 inches thick.
- Never prune more than one-third of the bush.
- Create a balance of older stems and new flowering shoots.