I found these little seed like thingys on my lilac bush. Are they seeds?
Thanks Mike, I saved the seeds and am going to try to grow them just because growing gives me a senses of acomplishment.
I just learned about "rooting" a plant on my lavender subject, SOOOO I was going to try to root the lilac. If I can did up the shoots that would be easier. I was planning on triming the bush to make it grow and look more like a tree. Is that possible with a lilac bush??
Do you know when the best time to trim a lilac bush is?
Do you know when the best time to dig up shoots is?
It has been warm here the past 8 days and the lilac is starting to bud already.
OOPS: spelling corrections..I need to learn to proof read my messages before I hit add..
Thanks Mike, I saved the seeds and am going to try to grow them just because growing gives me a senses of ACCOMPLISHMENT.
I just learned about "rooting" a plant on my lavender subject, SOOOO I was going to try to root the lilac. If I can did up the shoots that would be easier. I was planning on TRIMMING the bush to make it grow and look more like a tree. Is that possible with a lilac bush??
Do you know when the best time to trim a lilac bush is?
Do you know when the best time to dig up shoots is?
It has been warm here the past 8 days and the lilac is starting to bud already.
Well I am not so sure I want to do anything with this particular lilac except trim it to look like a tree. It is white I like the purple one's better. My Mother had the most beautiful lilac trees. She is deceased now. I wish when I was younger I would have had more interest in her gardening habits. She use to spend hours in the yard. I think I remember her saying they were French Lilacs.
Although I do love to have cut lilac in my house..If I trim the bush I will not get so many flowers to cut..Decisions decisions....
This lilac bush that I have, I bought at Walmart for $2.88. I had bought 2 purple ones too but they did not survive the first winter. I think I am just going to trim it to look like a tree and try to find some purple ones.
I am still going to try to grow the seeds. For the sense of accomplishment.
HI Oui Sounds like a plane to me.when grown to a tree it will take awhile for the top to fill back out but i agree with you they are very beautiful when trimmed to look like trees good luck with it and also with your seeds.If you look at some trade days or flea markets come spring you might be able to find some larger lilac bushes for a few dollars more.that is where i find a lot of my plants and trees and they are usually taken better care of than the ones you get at walmart where no one knows a lot about the plants at least in my area. your friend in gardening.mike57
I trimmed it yesterday. It is at least 8 ft tall already. I originally planted it I think 2 years ago. I left all the large branches (2 inches or bigger) and just cut off the little shoots and branches all the way up from the bottom about 3ft from the ground. I loosened up the soil around the base and put time released plant food on it. Then I recovered the ground with the leaves and grass clippings that were originally there before I loosened up the soil. I hope I did not kill it or stunt it..
Mike you are right Walmart employees DO NOT know how to take care of their nursery. I just took a chance because the price was so cheap.
Oh no! I thought I had Lilac seeds!!! But they don't look anything like that!! Mine are little wafery paper looking things...Light in color!! Whatever I have, I got from the seed Pod!!
I think mine are seed pods. With seeds inside. I am soaking them to see if they open up to reveal little seeds.
HI Oui some folks make beads for necklaces from them because they take so long to grow from seeds.I have only grown lilacs from cuttings or by digging up some of the side shoots.Let us know how it go,s with the seeds you have soaking ok.
your friend in gardening.mike57
ninniwinky go out and look at the lilac today. I only found 4 seeds on my lilac. You might have some seeds out there you can use.
Here are what my lilac seeds look like.
Thats what my seeds look like!!!! Yippee!!
Ninni
Mike what is the difference between a lilac tree and a bush?? I mean besides the obvious..My seeds are from, what I thought was a lilac bush because it looks like a bush. Although it does have a lot of large branches and is tall for its age.
I am happy mine is a tree because that is what I wanted.
Thanks Mike.....It does have an incredible amount of blooms..Not only does it bloom a lot but the leaves are pretty. I am hoping that my trimming has only contributed to its beauty.
I do not like lilac bushes....just because they do block the view. Although as a hedge they could be lovely..
Oh no another question has popped into my head....
Can Lilac Bushes be trimmed to look square?
The idea of a big lilac bush as a hedge does not apeal to me unless I can trim it up to look neater.
TRISS,
LOVED THE VIOLETS ON YOUR SITE........
I HAVE ABOUT 15 PLANTS AND WAS WONDERING WHERE YOU GOT THE IRISH FLIRT ?
COME SPRING I WOULD LIKE SOME TRADES.
WE HAVE SNOW.HERE NOW.
DODGE
Okay I have been soaking my lilac seeds since I posted the original message on here. The water is now black, I guess from the exterior of the seed. I can see little light green sprouts coming out.
<smile>
Oh my goodness, Thats a good sign isn't it??!?!?!?
Good Luck!!!!
Ninni
<smile> Yes I think it is.....Now all I have to do is not kill them...I can be very talented at killing plants...
I was looking at the information about plants that attract Butterflies to your garden on this site. There is a section that defines what type of butterfly is attracted to certain plants. All it says is lilac attracts butterflies, it does not say what kind of butterfly lilac attracts..
Anybody know what type of butterfly (s) are attracted to lilac?
ninniwinky: I see that you live in NY. Not sure if you live near Rochester Ny but they are having a Lilac Festival.
http://www.lilacfestival.com/summary.shtml
HI Oui Its not a problem to cut them back to a squared off form.But the boxed lilacs will not look natural though you would need to prune them right after they bloom so they will have plenty of time to put on next years blooms.If you wait to late they will not bloom the next year.All lilacs need to be pruned right after they have finish blooming.
The sooner the better after flowering and pruning new growth will start making next year's flower buds.
Improper pruning may cause them not to flower next year.Some plants bloom only on last year's wood particularly spring bloomers Cutting the plants back severely removes all the flowering wood.
The sooner there pruned the better.If pruned just as they are finished flowering then energy will not be wasted making seed and can go instead into making next years blooms.hope this helps your friend in gardening.Mike57
I think I'll just stick to my tree and forget about trimming
I have my Lilac tree planted on the corner of my Vegetable Garden site. It is planted in Red Alabama Clay. Which usually is acidic..I have been reading that lilac like's alkaline soil better.
If I get the soil tested and find that it is acidic should I try to change the soil composition around the bottom of the plant?
How would I do that if I needed to?? OR should I just leave it, and not mess with a good thing since the plant seems to be happy?
Here is a picture of my lilac. It is on the south west corner of my vegetable garden.
Hope you can see it..
It appears to be a
Persian Lilac , which has a bushy growth characteristic. I have one, but my climate zone is at the edge of its range,and it's fading away.
I agree with Mike -- let it be if it looks happy.
Okay: I will leave it...Before I came to this forum I just planted stuff and whatever happened happened... I had 2 purple one's too but they died the first winter....My yard is just slightly slanted toward the south. Lots of water runs down to that lilac when it rains....So I just put a little time released plant food on it and leave it. The recent trimming that I gave it is the only other care I have done. See all the white oak leaves all over that corner of the yard??? Oh how I dislike white oak leaves..<smile>>
Really now that I have taken the time to learn that lilacs like less acidic/slightly alkaline soil I am going to plant 2 purple ones again. In a row behind the white one..Or maybe one in front and one behind...See I put horse manure in my vegetable garden....Horse manure is acidic. The original purple ones would have been getting direct run off from the garden. That may be why they died. I think the white one survived because it is on the corner, thus would not be getting so much direct run off. I think I will plant one purple one on the other corner, east of the white one and another purple one west of the white one. That way none of the plants would be exposed to the run off..I hope my plan works...
That is the spot where I want the lilacs to be...
HI Oui That sounds like you have it figured out and have a good plane for them.I wish you the best of luck with them.your friend in gardening.mike57
Thanks..I think I need prayers too...<<smile>>
Okay I planted the lilac seeds..The original sprouts that I reported shrivled up..I think because I was soaking the seeds in nothing but water.
I am hoping that I did not kill them and that they will sprout again.
I planted the seeds in 2 chia herb garden pots and soil..see my topis Q's re chia herb garden on the herbs forum...Since these herbs sprouted so easily in the chia conditions I wanted to try to use the same soil for my lilacs...We shall see...I will keep you updated...
Here is an old picture I found...My Lilac is way in the background...It looks happy Right???Up close is my pink and white Crape Myrtle..