Lilac tree has a few blooms but no leaves. Whats wrong.

Gail OBrien
by Gail OBrien
  4 answers
  • Eroque022810 Eroque022810 on May 10, 2017

    I've heard that some only bloom everyother year. Have you pruned it because you need to get rid of dead branches. I wouldn't worry since it sounds like all energy is to blooms which you have. When they die you can prune the plant.

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on May 10, 2017

    Have you pruned the tree,fed it,anything different done?

  • Gail OBrien Gail OBrien on May 11, 2017

    \Have always cut dead blooms off and gave it fertilizer sticks . There is more dead wood again this year. Ready to pull out and replace.

    • Anna Anna on May 14, 2017

      Try waiting a while before cutting the dead blooms off. You might be inadvertently cutting the 'growth point' off as well. Lilacs like full sun. Could shade be the problem? Cut the thickest stems back to an inch above ground More growth will come from the roots. Mine were getting pretty scrawny, with thick branches. I cut them back last fall. This year they are the prettiest they have been in many years.

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on May 11, 2017

    You will always have some dead wood. My huge bush that I take care of for my neighbor(next to our driveway on the side of her house) is as big as a tree and as tall as her house. I am always having to trim off some dead twigs that don't leaf out each year. The lilac is in full bloom right now, but the leaves are not even totally out yet. They seem to come out fully once the flowers are starting to die off. Give it a chance and see what it does after the blooms are gone. I have no idea how old the shrub is, but it must be really old, and I think it is healthy and happy. I never fertilize it or even water it, just keep it trimmed as well as I can for how tall it is and no where to put a ladder.