Why won't my lilacs bloom?
by
Susan Nease
+3
They seem to be growing ok and get about 6 hours of sunlight daily, but this is the 4th year that they haven't bloomed! What do they need? Help!
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At any time were they pruned and when?Have you given them fertilizer and if what is the breakdown?
I have not pruned them. They started out as shoots, not as nursery stock, so I wanted to give them a good start. I have not fertilized them.
Most Lilacs don't flower until year five or six, make sure they're in well drained conditions as they don't like wet feet.
If your winters are moderate, try laying ice around the base of your bushes for several days. they like "cold feet" in the winter. Also, ash helps too.
Mine taken 7 years, after that was awesome with blooms!
I agree with Sophie. Lilacs take time to get established, so you may have to wait another couple of years. When they do bloom if you need to trim or prune do so as soon as the blooms fade. If you wait until fall to trim you will be cutting off next springs blooms. Any bush or shrub should be pruned after blooming, whether they bloom spring, summer, or fall. They then set buds for the next year. So if you prune later you are cutting off all of your gorgeous blooms for the next time.