Cut the branches away from the trunk using a pair of pruning shears. Unwrap the chain connected to the lilac trunk once it has been pulled completely out of the ground and dispose of it. Moving Lilac Shrubs. Dig approx. The goal is to expose as many of the roots as possible within 2 or 3 feet of the trunk. Preparation. This method may only work for smaller lilac bushes -- if the bush is too large for you to lift, you may need to use another method. Damaging the roots of the large tree will kill it too. Dig a hole in the soil deep enough to bury the roots. Because of this, cutting down the bush at ground level is a very temporary solution. Choose a shoot that is approximately 8 to 14 inches high. If you are like me, digging up bushes and trees SUCKS. Dig up a lilac shoot from somewhere around the main bush. Dig up a lilac shoot from somewhere around the main bush. The bush is … Lilac bushes are lovely, fragrant additions to any home garden. Transplanting Lilac Bushes: Transplant lilacs in the spring. 3. I planted three lilac bushes about seven years ago. Common lilac bushes (Syringa vulgaris) are deciduous shrubs that bloom in late spring.Syringa is a member of the olive family, along with other such ornamental plants as ash trees, forsythia shrubs, and privet shrubs.The best time to plant lilac bushes in fall, before the ground freezes. Lilacs need elevated, well draining soil. After setting the lilac in the hole, fill it up halfway with soil, then water it before filling up the rest of the hole. I have several growing under… Q. Flowering Bushes - Can I get starts from flowering bushes, such as lilac bushes, and if so, how? Lift the lilac bush from the ground. Use the shovel and a saw to cut out the roots. These can be transplanted if you wish. Wear gardening gloves or work gloves when removing lilac roots and trunks to prevent cutting your hands or getting blisters. If you are wondering when to transplant lilacs, you have two choices: autumn or spring. I grew it in a tree-form, so it has only 3 main trunks. If you want a more manicured look, lilac bushes can be pruned after they are 2–3 years old and well established. You may then fill in the hole from which you took the lilac trunk or use it to plant another shrub. They can be found as bare rootstock or in pots at many nurseries. Q. Peeling Bark On Lilac Tree - Hello, we have a lilac tree and the bark on the trunk is peeling off plus some what I think… Q. 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If you have heavily pruned your lilacs, you should fertilize the plant afterwards to restore the pH balance in the soil. Take your pruning shears and cut the branch approximately at ground level, away from the Mother Plant. Choose a shoot that is approximately 8 to 14 inches high. Remove as much soil from the hole as you can and keep digging until you reach the bottom of the root ball. This allows the roots to re-establish themselves quickly; Choose a calm, dull day to help prevent roots from drying out. Plant the rootball in a prepared hole twice as large as the rootball. Will vinegar kill a lilac bush? on Apr 23, 2020. Never heard of that but maybe something was after fertilizer or bone meal put in to amend the soil. 3. I remember them being a light purple, can they actually look white or turn white if the bush is old? Lilacs spread by runners. Deadheading spent lilac blooms in summer. How to Transplant Lilac Bushes: Here are the basic steps to successfully transplanting lilac bushes: Select a sunny location. A common doubt before anyone goes planting lilacs is that which place to choose for them. Lilac bushes are lovely, fragrant additions to any home garden. About a week after they were planted I noticed the soil around the base of all transplants was disturbed. The entire lilac bush will not be dug up. Choose a shoot that is approximately 8 to 14 inches high. After tearing out 12 overgrown boxwoods this past weekend, I want to offer everyone a timesaving method to tear out landscaping quickly and easily. The bush naturally has a vase shape, with the new growth each year in a clump at the base of the plant with the upper growth fanning out in all directions, like a vase full of wild flowers. Grow lilac bushes in full sun. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. The following year (again in late winter), prune out one-half of the remaining old stems. When you have undermined the stump, use the shovel to pop it out. As I stated abоve, they’re lоw-maintenance! Use a shovel to dig up the shoot because you are going to have to cut off the runner, and a trowel will not be tough enough to do the job. Build up the soil a few inches, if necessary. They were far to big to dig up … All they ask of you is full sun, fertile soil, water, and a little TLC in the way of pruning every year. Your goal is to cut the shrub back so only the base of the trunk and the root ball remain in the ground. When using the car jack to pull a lilac trunk out of the ground, reduce the tension on the chain before cutting any of the exposed roots. She mentioned that the flowers were white and only have a few flowers on the older parts. Most experts recommend that you act in spring. Water well to provide moisture and settle the soil down. Re-dig the trench around the lilac; then insert a sharp shovel at a 45-degree angle around and under the root ball. They have a moderate growth rate of 12 to 24 inches per year. Preparing the site for your new lilac bush correctly is well worth the added effort as your new bush will become an established, healthy plant much faster. After your lilac bush has finished blooming, spread some lime and well-rotted manure around the base. Here are certain tips that may guide you on how to prune lilac bushes. Finally, remove all of the remaining old wood in late winter of the third year. Lilacs spread by runners. They are also versatile shrubs, filling in as border plants, specimen ornamentals or as part of flowering hedges. Dig, split and transplant lilac bushes in early spring prior to the leaves emerging from swollen buds. Dig up a lilac shoot from somewhere around the main bush. If you are looking to save the tree, but get rid of the lilacs, digging will be a precarious proposition also, because the roots of both will probably be intertwined. You can dig them out and replant them, and odds are good that they will thrive and grow in a new location. If you plan to plant the new lilac bush to the ground in another location in the garden, then prepare the spot and dig it up before you separate the lilac bush. Wrap one end of a length of chain around the lilac trunk, weaving it among the roots, and wrap the other end around the piece of lumber. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English with a creative writing concentration from Marietta College. Powdery mildew, blights, wilts and lilac borers: All the possible drawbacks of lilacs (Syringa spp.) How to Get Rid of Old Lilac Roots & Trunks 1. I cut the trunks off at ground level, and dug a trench about 2 feet from the trunks all around, cutting through the roots. Katherine Barrington has written on a variety of topics, from arts and crafts to pets, health and do-it-yourself projects. As the jack rises, the piece of lumber to which the lilac trunk is attached will be pulled out of the ground. Lightly tamp down the soil. Do lilacs transplant well? Himalayan lilac has variegated leaves in fresh green with a darker green central splash; Syringa vulgaris ‘Lois Amee Utley’ – a large lilac with fragrant pink, double flowers. Lilac bushes can reach heights of up to 12 feet if they aren't pruned. The common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is a popular perennial shrub that produces fragrant white or purple flowers. With a sharp shovel, you want to dig up your new lilac bush. Decide if you are going to trim the bush. It is counter to normal transplanting logic, as trimming plants allows the plant to focus on re-growing the root system. Syringa emodi ‘Aureovariegata’ – this Himalayan lilac is a large deciduous shrub 5m tall, with fragrant, tubular white flowers appearing from June onwards. Continue digging into the dirt until you can access the root system. Here is what you’ll need to know: Choose a spot with full sun and good drainage. Dig around the base of the lilac bush using a shovel or spade. With a few easy tips, grоwing yоur оwn lilacs is absоlutely within yоur reach; yоu dоn’t need tо be an expert gardener tо grоw them. I have been given permission to dig up shoots from the lilac bushes on my grandparents old farm. In their case, it is important not only to prune, but also to do so at the right time of the year. Use a shovel to dig up the shoot because you are going to have to cut off the runner, and a trowel will not be tough enough to do the job. I was able to convince my neighbor to let me Lilacs reproduce by both seed and sucker production. Caring for Lilac Bushes: Transplanting lilac bushes should always be done in the autumn months. Choose a shoot that is approximately 8 to 14 inches high. At one time a carriage house had sat on the property with the lilac bushes being the only remaining reminder. How to transplant a lilac? Push the spade toward the tree, creating a V-shaped trench. Remove as much soil from the hole as you can and keep digging until you reach the bottom of the root ball. Why My Lilac Bush Is Not Blooming - My bush is spreading but only leafy growth. With a few tips, growing your own lilacs is absolutely within your reach; you don’t need to be an expert gardener to grow them. Many species of lilac, like the French lilac, propagate by producing shoots around the base of the shrub. Lay two scraps of plywood on the ground on either side of the lilac trunk. Dig approx. Lilacs spread by runners. Suckers take away energy from the rest of the plant. The plants are relatively small, making them a snap to dig a hole for. Set up a standard car jack on top of the plywood scrap on one side of the lilac trunk and stack two concrete blocks on the other side. Dig a hole about twice as wide as the root ball. The big problem with getting rid of lilac bushes is that the plant regrows from any piece of root section left in the ground. A healthy lilac bush or tree should have no more than 2 or 3 large trunks. We were building a garage on that site so the bushes had to go. Soil additives can cause drainage problems, and lilacs don't like wet feet! These new plants are then transplanted to other areas. Unlike perennial plants where you dig the whole thing and divide it, most of the parent plant is left undisturbed, removing only the sucker. This will take a lot of elbow work and time, especially if it is an old, well-established tree. Small, young shrubs almost always transplant better than older, established plants, and lilacs are no exception. Lift the lilac bush up from the soil and carefully transfer it to the wheelbarrow. Begin the procedure by removing one-third of the large, old stems at ground level in late winter. Q. The key is to be vigilant and patient. Is there an animal that will dig up and eat my lilac bush roots? Back-fill and firm down the soil gently around the plant. Pry up the roots with the … Lilacs develop basal suckers that can be dug up while still dormant and separated from the parent root. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Dig the trench at least 3 feet from the bush stump. Retain several well-spaced, vigorous stems and remove all the others. Q. Offshoots Of Lilac Bushes - Will the off-shoots of Lilac bushes become flower-bearing bushes, or are they just suckers? Can I dig them up and… Q. This will prevent recoil. Dig around the lilac bush that you will separate from the mother plant. Unlike perennial plants where you dig the whole thing and divide it, most of the parent plant is left undisturbed, removing only the sucker. “Our lilac bushes have started sprouting from the roots, despite weed blocking fabric and rock mulch. You may need to empty some of the dirt out of the hole by hand or with a shovel to get to the roots more easily. Dig up and transplant saplings from a friend or neighbor's lilac bush in the spring, just as leaf buds begin to form or when the newly opened leaves are still small. If you'd like to plant a sucker, simply dig a hole, plant your sucker, and water. Fertilize the plant afterwards. I owned an open lot that had 3 lovely, but very large lilac bushes on it. Raise the jack. Brush the dirt away from the exposed roots by hand and cut as many of them as you can using a pair of pruning shears. Lilacs spread by runners. When you think about relocating a lilac bush, you’ll find it much easier to transplant root shoots than to actually move the mature plant. I'm in the process of trying to dig up a common lilac that's about 15 years old probably. How to Plant Lilac Bushes. Dig a trench around the perimeter of the tree wide enough to accommodate the rootball. Prepare a large area for the plant before you begin digging out the lilac. Lilacs spread by runners. Use a shovel to dig up the shoot because you are going to have to cut off the runner, and a trowel will not be tough enough to do the job. Although these plants are compact, they can take up a lot of space in your yard. Quite quickly, you will have many lilac shoots coming up from the stump area. Top Questions About Lilac Bushes. Sign up for our newsletter. Keep this in mind when you select the new home for your Lilac bush. Lilac bushes are actually knоwn tо live up tо 100 years in the same spоt! Aim to clear larger shrubs during the fall or winter to avoid this. Dig up a lilac shoot from somewhere around the main bush. Lilac bushes are actually known to live up to 100 years in the same spot! They don’t like wet feet. I grew it in a tree-form, so it has only 3 main trunks. If you are thinking your lilac would look or grow better in another location, consider transplanting a root shoot instead of relocating a lilac bush. I've tried everything, even sacrificing plants to dig it up, but it always grows back. Also, thin out some of the new growth. You can also try wedging the blade of your shovel under the root ball to lever it up and out of the hole. Japanese anemones. It is also possible to move an entire mature plant, but only if necessary. Select 12-inch tall saplings, and use a shovel to dig them from the ground. Once you have dug around the lilac bush, use the shovel to lift it up the ground. Mix plenty of compost into the planting site. Then plant this shoot in the center of the prepared area. Don't add anything, such as potting soil or peat moss, to the hole. Mulch annually in spring. There are also types of lilac plants that bloom at different times. Cut the runners to separate the sapling from the plant. Use a shovel to dig up the shoot because you are going to have to cut off the runner, and a trowel will not be tough enough to do the job. Read on for all the information you need about moving lilac shrubs. Pruning Lilacs. Dig a generous hole and plant your lilac to the level of the soil line. Lilac bushes can grow up to 20 feet tall and, if they are not properly pruned and cared for, they can overtake your garden. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. If you want to transplant a lilac shoot, separate the transplant from the mother plant with as large a root system as possible. Infill with well dug soil and firm down to remove air pockets. They are exceptionally sturdy, long lived and carefree. Depending on the variety and location conditions, the lilac bushes in your garden can grow up to 4-8 feet high and the same width or little more. Put an inch of soil into the pot. You still need to take out as large a rootball as possible, and you may need help to lift the mature plant’s rootball onto a tarp to move it. Because they spread by root suckers, you can nearly always dig up new starts from old lilac bushes. Choose a shoot that is approximately 8 to 14 inches high. If you reach the maximum height of the jack before the lilac trunk is completely freed, you can place a concrete block under the jack and add another to the stack on the opposite side of the lilac trunk. The first step is to dig around the plant and fairly deep. Continue to raise the jack, pausing once in a while to cut away exposed roots. I'm in the process of trying to dig up a common lilac that's about 15 years old probably. Position the shovel approximately 1 foot outside of the outer perimeter of the shrub, and dig a circular perimeter around the entire shrub. Lilacs spread by runners. Dig deeply, to get as many roots as possible. Cut the roots away in chunks and discard them. 4-5 inches around the outer edges of the rooted area and bring as much soil as possible up with the rooted lilac bush. Pick a spot in your yard with good air circulation, not right up against the house, in order to minimize disease risks. I cut the trunks off at ground level, and dug a trench about 2 feet from the trunks all around, cutting through the roots. Is there an animal that will dig up and eat my lilac bush roots? Re-dig the trench around the lilac; then insert a sharp shovel at a 45-degree angle around and under the root ball. Sever the branches as close to the base of the shrub as possible. Plant the bush at the same depth as it was originally. 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