I've got a lilac bush that's been part of my yard for about 15 years. It's become quite massive and is now overshadowing some other plants I want to keep. I decided to prune it back a bit since I've read that around 30% is safe. Unfortunately, I did this in the middle of winter instead of waiting for late spring after it bloomed. I'm concerned about whether my lilac will bounce back from this timing mistake. I've heard lilacs are pretty tough, but I'm not sure how it will handle the winter pruning. Any tips or assurance would be appreciated!
3 Answers
No need to worry! Pruning now won't harm the lilac, but you might miss out on some blooms this year. When you prune, aim to remove the oldest and thickest branches first since they produce fewer flowers than the younger ones.
It'll definitely recover, but you might not see flowers this year. Just a tip: avoid topping the bush. Instead, cut individual branches down to the ground to encourage healthy growth in the future.
Good to know! So how do I find the right branches to cut? They're all pretty big and none look central since it's more of a bush.
I heavily pruned mine last fall—cut it down from 12 feet to about 4 feet. I expect it to bounce back beautifully, though, probably without blooms this year. Looking forward to seeing how it responds in the next season!
Thanks for sharing your experience! My wife is really attached to our lilac, so hearing this gives me hope.
Thanks for the reassurance! I'll definitely keep that in mind for future prunings.