How and when to prune lilacs correctly. Pruning garden lilacs in autumn - why and how to do it

Hello, dear readers of my blog! What will we talk about today? I will delight lovers of the beautiful shrub that decorates our yard in the spring with its abundant unique blooms. Only my story will be quite unusual, since I will not introduce you to growing a plant, but to one of the necessary and main care processes. Are you already starting to guess what we will talk about? That’s right, I’ll tell you how to prune lilacs in the spring and why it is necessary to do this work at just such a time.

I think you know very well how rapidly lilac grows and develops. This quality of the shrub in some cases can lead the owners into a slight stupor, because the thickened crown is the reason that the plant refuses to bloom, and even if inflorescences appear, they will definitely not please you with their size and brightness of shades.

There is only one way to help lilacs - by carrying out annual spring pruning. Why spring? In the absence of experience, it will not be difficult for beginners to notice dry and frozen shoots in order to remove them first. Diseased branches are also easy to distinguish - usually the buds on them do not bloom for a long time, and if leaves appear, they are tiny.

Remove diseased and dry shoots to the first healthy and large bud, and adult damaged branches to the very base (a small stump can be left). I think it’s not worth reminding that the tool should be clean and sharp? Let me remind you of the consequences of working with a dull file and pruning shears - the cut areas will turn into a fibrous washcloth, which can cause rotting of healthy tissue.

The crown can be thinned by shoots growing not to the sides, but inside the lilac bush. Such branches will bring more harm, than good - they block access to the sun's rays and fresh air to the center of the plant. The absence of the most important factors for development threatens the appearance of fungal diseases. You cannot expect flowering from improperly growing branches, so remove them mercilessly.

This pruning scheme will be a little incomplete if I don't warn about cutting out the growth. It must be removed completely, without giving a single shoot a chance, especially when varietal grafted lilacs are showing off in the yard. The shoots will pull all the nutrients and precious moisture from the soil, thereby slowing down the development of the beautiful bush.

Spring crown formation

You only need to form a lilac crown in the spring. How does this pruning happen? Carefully examine the lilac bush from all sides, most often you will see for yourself what is superfluous and what should be trimmed. Usually young shoots that have grown too long are cut off. Since the fabric of such branches is soft, you can do the job with ordinary, but very sharp scissors.

What are the benefits of spring pruning? It has many advantages, I will only say a few of the most important ones:

when you avoid making mistakes in pruning in the spring, the crown will continue to form on its own throughout the year;
the branches on which flower buds begin to form will receive more strength;
Side shoots will begin to develop much more vigorously.

Spring pruning includes the removal of fading buds. Don't know why to do this? When you do not cut out the inflorescence in a timely manner, even before the flowers completely wither, seeds will begin to form and ripen in it. Lilac will direct a lot of its energy to this process, completely losing sight of the fact that it needs to save up energy for laying new ones. flower buds. The result is obvious - you will get a lot of unnecessary things. planting material and the wretched lilac blossom on next year.

I'll open it little secret– the more luxurious bouquets of lilacs you give to your loved ones this year, the more abundantly the bush strewn with flowers will show off next year. The trick is simple - cut out a lot of flowers, thereby stimulating the formation of numerous new buds.

During flowering, be sure to pay a little attention to the bush - you need not only to cut out the fading buds, but also to remove damaged and drying shoots. If you notice that some of the inflorescences begin to fade for some unknown reason, be sure to tear them off immediately - unfinished flowering will quickly develop into the formation of seed pods.

Anti-aging pruning

Let’s say you are a real guru in gardening or floriculture, then you know very well that sooner or later plants grow old and begin to bloom much more sparingly, or even stop this delightful process altogether. There is no need to rush to throw away lilacs when they categorically refuse to bloom due to their age - everything can be corrected here with anti-aging pruning.

In what month should you start working? I advise you not to hesitate, and immediately after the snow melts, go to your pet. If you don’t have time, the bush will begin to grow; it’s better not to risk it and postpone the process until next year.

I’ll tell you a secret - before rejuvenating pruning, you definitely need to remember what kind of lilac you planted. There are only two options - grafted or wild. In the first case, it is strictly not recommended to prune the lilac below the point at which the grafting was carried out. What does this mean for your beauty? It’s okay, of course, an ordinary wild bird will just start growing.

How to get started correctly? The most powerful and thick branches are cut off first (almost half). After them comes the turn of thinner shoots, do not spare them and cut them to the third bud from the base. Keep in mind - the more excess branches you remove, the more magnificent the rejuvenated plant will grow next year. Wait a few seasons, and you will be surprised and delighted to see how the bush completely disappears under clusters of fragrant flowers. By the way, excellent photos will certainly help you understand all the intricacies of pruning; I advise you to read them carefully.

As I already warned, the tools must be very sharp. I advise you to cover up neat cuts. thin layer garden var. Of course, you can do without this, but such a precaution will help protect the lilac bush from the penetration of microorganisms. They bring particular danger in rainy, damp summers - the bush can become infected with fungus.

I have helpful advice for beginners who have started rejuvenating lilacs. It will be quite difficult to figure out whether the bush is grafted or not. I'll be happy to help. Carefully inspect the places of possible grafting; you will not find any thickenings or distinctive branches - an ordinary wild lilac. This can be recognized by the structure of the bark - in the grafted area it will have a different pattern.

I want to warn you a little - under no circumstances go with the sector to the lilacs in the summer! At this time, intensive formation of buds occurs, but you interfere with the process and mistakenly can remove exactly those branches that are tuned to lush flowering. Next year all that remains is to observe a small number of flowers, whereas without your “help” there would be much more!

It seems that I have told everything in such detail that there will be no difficulties. If I missed something in my story, I advise you to watch a video in which pruning lilac bushes is carried out step by step. Don't forget that your friends may also have difficulty with this. not an easy process, so please share in social networks today's release. The last tip for today is to subscribe to blog news. This will always allow you to know what new and interesting things I have prepared. Let me say goodbye, dear readers, and wish you all the best!

How to prune lilacs correctly, whether to prune lilacs in the spring and whether it is possible to prune lilacs in general - such questions are often asked by gardeners. Meanwhile, it is necessary to prune the lilac, otherwise the flowering of this beautiful plant will be scanty and predominantly at the very top of the bush, while the lower part and middle will consist of bare woody branches. Read our article about when and how to prune lilacs correctly. The most common type of lilac in our gardens is the numerous varieties of shrubs common lilac (Syringa vulgaris), about which this article and which we will further call simply lilac .

The largest lilac inflorescences appear on young branches, no older than 5-6 years. The older the branches, the smaller the inflorescences and the higher they are located, and at the level of human height and gaze, the lilac branches become woody and bare. From these features of the lilac growing season, it becomes clear that this plant, like no other, needs regular annual pruning, and old, overgrown and neglected lilac bushes require strong rejuvenating pruning.

Pruning lilacs in spring...

...maybe not the most best idea, if you expect to see blooms this year. If you have extra time, in the spring you can prune branches that have been broken over the winter or shorten branches that do not have buds. Main shaping lilac pruning should be done immediately after flowering, approximately once every two years. This rule applies to all beautiful flowering trees and shrubs. Formative pruning immediately after flowering (May-June) will allow the plant to grow new shoots and form new buds by the time of the next flowering.

Concerning rejuvenating pruning of old lilacs, then they do it themselves in early spring, as soon as low above-zero temperatures are established in the garden (in mild climates, such pruning can be done in winter).

How to prune lilacs correctly: formative pruning

After the end of lilac flowering (see photo diagram*, enlarged):

trim off faded inflorescences short branches
shorten long branches by about 1/3

After finishing the formative pruning, the lilac bush will have a compact, rounded appearance.

How to prune old lilacs: anti-aging pruning

Rejuvenating pruning of old lilac bushes should be carried out as early as possible in the spring (if you are not interested in flowering) or immediately after flowering (see photo diagram*, enlarged):

shorten all branches to approximately 30-40 cm from the ground
thin out the branches near the ground by cutting off excess or old branches at the root
trim (or carefully remove with roots) excess when root shoots if the lilac has grown too wide

After the rejuvenating pruning of the lilac is completed, the bush will look like a lot of stump branches, but very soon new buds and greenery will form on the short branches, and in a year or two the lilac will bloom magnificently (with good care, naturally). The lush and fragrant inflorescences are enough for cutting and as a gift to friends. Photo below: lilacs in a vase.

Pruning grafted lilacs

The peculiarities of pruning grafted lilacs are that pruning should be done ABOVE the grafting site. All lateral growth should be removed, because the flowering on it will correspond to the type and variety of the rootstock, and not the highly decorative scion that you are counting on.

Photo diagrams adapted from the magazine Fine Gardening*

Did you know that in Great Britain and some other countries it was believed bad omen bring lilacs into the house and put them in a vase? Until now, some people, especially the older generation, do not cut lilacs and do not put them in a vase at home, because it was believed that lilacs in the house bring misfortune and... death. While searching online for the origins of this sign, I came across an interesting explanation. It turns out that before the widespread use of modern embalming agents, lilacs during the flowering period were widely used in houses where the body of the deceased was awaiting burial to mask the smell of decomposition. Thus, based on unpleasant associations, a “feedback” of lilac and misfortune arose, which, fortunately, has no logic behind it. However, if you are visiting someone in the hospital, choosing flowers, it is better to stay away from lilacs so as not to inadvertently upset the patient or his grandmother :-).

Lilac, like other tree-like shrubs, needs annual crown correction. Dried shoots, fading inflorescences, skeletal branches, layering and shoots inhibit vegetative processes inside the plant and negatively affect its general condition. In this regard, gardeners carry out annual pruning of lilacs after flowering, in the fall, and also in early spring.

Branches after flowering

Garden lilacs can be pruned year-round. It is better to plan sanitary procedures for the spring before the buds open. Before flowering begins, you should refrain from adjusting the height of the crown so as not to remove flower buds. If a lilac develops a lot of inflorescences, some of them can be removed to prolong the flowering of the bush.

It is not recommended to carry out more than 3 lilac haircuts per season.

Not everyone can prune lilacs correctly, although it also poses certain difficulties. After the perennial blooms, it is enough to remove only the faded panicles so that they do not take over some of the nutrients for seed ripening. Moreover, 10% of the inflorescences are left so as not to disturb the vegetative processes of the bush.

Haircuts are not carried out later than August, trees thinned in autumn do not bear inflorescences the following season. You can prune lilacs in the fall only for sanitary purposes. Between September and November, parts of the crown affected by the fungus are removed. In this case, saving the bush from death is a priority to its fruiting.

Types of pruning before and after flowering

Flowers, trees and shrubs are business card any area. Well-groomed plants can improve even the most unsightly area. While dense, diseased shrubs not only weigh down the plant composition, but pose a threat to other ornamental and fruit and berry crops. Regular pruning will help protect the plant from overgrowing.

There are several technologies for clearing green matter from a bush. The choice of one of them is carried out taking into account the time of year, the age of the bush, and its condition.

Sanitary annual clean crown

The work boils down to freeing the perennial from infected, frostbitten and shriveled branches. Sagging and dried shoots are usually removed in early spring before the buds open to prevent damage to the trunks by fungi and pests. Sanitation work also includes removing inflorescences after flowering.

Sanitary cutting is not always tied to calendar work in the garden. In the event of an invasion of pests or damage to the crown by bacteria, the diseased part is cut out completely, regardless of the work carried out previously. So as not to be left without blooming garden, take into account roses, peonies, hydrangeas and other perennials.

Thinning pruning

This is a type of pruning in which lateral shoots and layering are cut off from a formed bush.

The following branches are removed from the plant:

Formative pruning in the first, second and subsequent years

When carrying out such a haircut, the bush is given the desired shape and parameters. In park compositions there are both bush and standard specimens of lilac. The first option is considered the most common.

The most interesting and time-consuming is cutting lilacs after transplanting into open ground. Not all gardeners know when to prune young lilacs, so the plant develops spontaneously in the first few years. This approach negatively affects the growth and formation of the bush in the future.

How to prune in the first year?

Immediately after planting in open ground, all shoots longer than one and a half meters are cut off from the seedling. Shoots and cuttings are removed so that the plant takes root better. 1 month after planting, plot owners can begin to form a crown. For development, 3-4 (bush form) or 1 (standard form) trunk are selected. The remaining shoots are removed. On spreading bushes, 5-6 stems are left.

If there are few branches and they are weak, then the formation of new ones can be stimulated by short cutting of the growth. The shoots left as skeletal shoots are shortened by 1/3, forming an attractive crown.

What to plan for the second and third years?

It is necessary to cut out growth directed inside the crown, as well as weak branches. Annual shoots are shortened to half.

Lilacs are pruned annually

Fourth and subsequent years

From 4 years to 8 years with proper care For lilacs, thinning will be enough for her. At 9 years old, the plant is prepared for its first rejuvenating haircut.

Sometimes the top is cut off so that the whole lilac bushes. In this case, no more than 1/5 of the height of the bush is removed.

A favorable time for manipulation is spring, before the sap begins to flow. In summer, you can also thin out the crown, breaking out the shoots before they are covered with wood.

Bush or standard tree?

Lilac can grow as a compact tree or a wide shrub that produces root shoots every year. If the crop is given the opportunity to develop independently, then over time it will turn into an overgrown shrub consisting of many stems of different ages. In the center there will be old stems with peeling bark. Lichens, mosses, and pests readily take root on them, causing damage to the entire plant.

Another scenario is also possible - in those varieties that do not form shoots, the only trunk ages. If measures are not taken in a timely manner, the plant will grow old and die. Approaches to formation should be different, in each case you will have to take into account varietal characteristics perennial

It makes no sense to try to form a standard from an overgrown bush or vice versa. Approaches to shaping should vary.

Initial stage of formation standard tree consists of shortening an annual seedling to a height equal to the desired size of the trunk, plus 3-4 pairs of developed buds. From the shoots that grow from the left buds, a crown is subsequently formed according to the principle of a bush plant. In the future, you will have to promptly remove branches formed below the crown.

Video about forming a lilac trunk.

When to start rejuvenation?

Anti-aging pruning is cleaning the crown in order to prolong the life of the bush and improve flowering. During this process, the gardener selects the oldest trunks and cuts them into stumps. The renewed crown is formed from young shoots that were selected and preserved during previous cleanings of the plant. Partial anti-aging pruning involves removing lignified skeletal branches.

Rejuvenating cleaning is carried out to stimulate the growth of new shoots. In the next growing season, the plant will not bloom, since all flowering buds from last year will be removed. Before carrying out the planned event, gardeners determine the availability of vaccination. If it is detected, all parts of the plant located at the same level or below the graft are saved.

Upon reaching 12 years of age, flowering becomes sparse and the inflorescences become smaller, so gentle rejuvenation is best started when the shrub is 9 years old. By cutting off 2-3 old shoots per season, the lilac will always look well-groomed without compromising flowering.

Do I need to prune the inflorescences after they wilt?

If the owner is not interested in the ripening of the seed pods, it is recommended to remove the faded panicles, as they absorb a significant amount of nutrients.

When the first flowers appear on the lilac, they can be cut into bouquets. It is forbidden to break branches, since split wood is difficult to restore. Flowering next year will not be as abundant as usual. This is explained by the fact that the shoots on which future flower buds will form are located next to the inflorescences and are destroyed along with them.

To cut panicles into a bouquet without losing next year’s flower buds, you can cut only the brushes themselves, or the brushes together with the “slingshot” - the place where 2 inflorescences join together with an allowance of 5-6 cm.

Haircut rules

To work you will need a set of gardening tools:

pruner;
gardening scissors;
penknife;
electrical tape, resin or garden pitch;
twine;
gloves.

At the initial stage, a visual diagnosis of the bush is carried out. Trunks, branches and shoots that will subsequently be cut off are noted. At the same time, you need to remember that you cannot remove more than 20% of the crown at a time.

What mistakes beginner gardeners make are discussed in the video.

Too long branches are shortened first by 2/4. The cut is made at an angle of 45% and covered with garden varnish to prevent infections from penetrating under the bark. After this, the bush is thinned out to remove wilted, deformed and broken branches. They are cut to the very base of the trunk. Bare areas are wrapped with electrical tape or agrofibre.

When working with intertwined branches and closely spaced trunks, use twine. With its help, parts of the crown are fixed in such a way that individual shoots do not interfere with the gardener’s work. The trunks are cut to a stump, i.e. at the very base, the wound is covered with garden varnish. If the volume of cut material does not exceed 15% of the total mass of the crown, gardeners begin pinching out weak branches and young growth.

After the procedure is completed, the twine is cut off, and the crown takes on its previous appearance. The cut material must be disposed of immediately. Branches thrown near a bush provoke the development of putrefactive processes.

Every gardener dreams of having some kind of decoration decorate his garden. unusual plant. Lilac can also be classified as such a plant. With proper care and following all the rules, you can achieve a beautiful and healthy looking plant. This article will clearly describe the basic requirements for caring for shrubs.

If you do correct pruning plant, then you can:

update the bush;
improve flowering;
form a crown;
ensure good growth of green mass;
prevent fungal diseases from infecting the plant.

Young lilacs do not need to remove branches and shoots in the first two years. If young growths are removed, flowering will be rare or absent altogether. It's important to choose optimal time for shaping and cutting. In spring, gardeners do not recommend pruning lilacs, as this may disrupt flowering or stop it altogether.

It is better to postpone all manipulations until autumn or until the lilac inflorescences disappear. But this does not mean that the plant does not require care in the spring. Before buds appear on the lilac, you should cut off damaged and dried branches, as well as diseased sprouts.

Types of lilac pruning

There are two types of lilac pruning:

crown trimming;
pruning inflorescences that have bloomed.

Pruning the crown is done after flowering so that the bush produces new buds and does not weaken. Long branches are removed by 1/3, the shoots are thinned out and excess root growth is removed. The diagram for pruning the bush after flowering is shown below.

Fading inflorescences are cut off in late spring or early summer, when the flowers disappear. This stimulates the growth of new buds well. After the bush has been rejuvenated, only stumps remain on it and it does not look beautiful. But after 2 years, the lilac will have new shoots and lush flowering.

List of tools

For this procedure you need garden tools, namely:

Secateurs. To remove thin branches and new shoots.
Hacksaw. Necessary when removing thick branches.
Special paint. For processing fresh cuts or damage.

All equipment must be clean and well sharpened so that when pruning, infection does not penetrate into the cut. The ingress of various bacteria can have a detrimental effect on the plant.

Autumn pruning of lilacs

The main goal of autumn pruning is to prepare the plant for winter, rejuvenate, strengthen the growth and development of the bush. At this time of year, the plant tolerates pruning better than in the spring. In the fall, they not only rejuvenate, but also remove dry shoots and give the bush the desired shape.

Thinning is done to give shape to the bush, but do not forget that this procedure is done after 3 years of the plant’s life, otherwise the lilac will disappear. Below is a diagram of the formation of the bush.

You can form a lilac bush:

in the form of an improved bush;
in the form of a free bush;
standard;
semi-standard;
high-standard.

Autumn rejuvenation of lilacs

The shrub can maintain its lushness as it grows, but the intensity and duration of flowering decreases. To eliminate this, rejuvenate the bush. A plant older than 10 years needs rejuvenation. After the procedure, the lilac looks ugly, but in the 2nd year it will bloom evenly and luxuriantly.

During rejuvenation, most branches are pruned. The length of the branches should be no more than 40 cm from the soil level. The cuts are covered with paint on oil based or brilliant green for quick healing.

Annual pruning

For timely sanitary cleaning, lilacs are inspected every year in the fall. Branches that are covered with lichen and bark must be removed so that the lilac will delight you with its flowers next year.

You also need to remove crooked and broken shoots that thicken the crown. This event is not done in the spring, so as not to disrupt the growth and development of flower buds. Autumn pruning will greatly benefit the bush and improve its wintering.

Spring pruning of a bush

Gardeners do not recommend rejuvenating and shaping the shrub in the spring, but some procedures must be carried out with the plant. Before the buds appear, all excess shoots are removed. Needs this kind of pruning old lilac, which eventually stops flowering.

After the procedure, in the first year the bush will have no inflorescences, but in the future it will delight you with a large number of lush and beautiful buds.

How to properly thin out a lilac bush

Young seedlings grow very quickly and without constant thinning the plant becomes shapeless and overly lush. First, remove all dry and frozen branches. Young shoots that will not have buds are pruned. The branches that grow inside the lilac are also pruned.

The buds on such branches do not bloom due to lack of sun rays. You must remember to partially remove root growth to prevent the appearance of wild branches. And you need to remember that during the thinning procedure you will need to remove only 1/3 of the total number of branches.

Spring rejuvenation of lilac

Shrubs are rejuvenated in the spring as well as in the fall. To do this, cut off all the branches and process the cuts. New shoots grow on the cuttings. The restoration of lilac will occur after two years and it will bloom again and delight with its aroma.

Annual pruning

Young seedlings after 2 years need annual pruning of shoots. To achieve good flowering the next year, about 20% of the lilac branches are removed. For spring pruning you need:

cut flowers that have bloomed;
form a plant;
remove excess thickness.

The entire procedure is carried out by a special garden tool. Shoots and inflorescences must not be broken or torn off.

Pruning shrubs before flowering

There is no need to thin out more than 10-20% of the bush in the spring before the lilacs bloom. This may affect flowering this season. Before flowering, do a sanitary cleaning and lightly remove dry and frozen branches, cracked bark, weakened branches and shoots that spoil appearance bush.

Pruning during flowering

When the bush blooms, you just want to pick an armful of lilacs and decorate your apartment or house. You can do this safely to strengthen the bush. It is forbidden to break off branches during the process; you must use gardening tools. Breaking branches can destroy the plant, and in rainy weather the broken pieces quickly rot.

Pruning after flowering

After the bush has flowered, dried inflorescences are removed. Fulfilling some requirements will help preserve the bush and ensure its lush flowering in the future:

after the lilac has faded, pruning is done to preserve the plant’s strength for further growth;
a bush that does not bloom is thinned out every year;
Autumn pruning is beneficial for the bush and helps it survive even the coldest winter.

Video: how to prune lilacs

How to properly and carefully prune a bush so as not to destroy it and ensure further growth and flowering can be viewed in the video:

What you need to grow lilacs

Growing lilacs does not require serious material costs. For good growth and abundant flowering bush must be observed simple rules, namely:

carry out annual pruning of branches;
do sanitary cleaning of bushes;
rejuvenate the plant in spring and autumn;
periodically thin out the bush;
use gardening tools for their intended purpose.

Bush blooming lilac- a luxurious decoration for anyone summer cottage! At first glance, it seems that the plant does not need special care. Indeed, lilac is unpretentious, but requires some care and attention.

Correct fitlilac

It is advisable to plant lilacs either in sunny areas or in light partial shade. The plant cannot be placed in the shade.

The planting hole should be deep, with rotted loose soil. The plant does not tolerate close groundwater, so low areas are unsuitable for it. It is better to plant lilacs either in early spring or in late summer - early autumn; September is most suitable for this. If you decide to start planting in the spring, then buy seedlings in a container so that it is closed root system. Otherwise, there is a possibility that the lilac will not take root well or will die.

After you have planted the shrub, be sure to water it. You can add any drug that stimulates root formation to the water for irrigation. It is advisable to cover the top layer of soil with hay with a layer of 6-8 cm, which will protect the soil from drying out and weeds, and then, turning into humus, will be food for lilacs.
This plant can grow in one place for a long time, sometimes its entire life.

Caring for lilacs after flowering

Lilacs need regular pruning. In the 3rd year, the bush has strong, numerous shoots. They will subsequently form skeletal branches.
Exactly pruning after flowering determines how well the plant will bloom.
Lilac responds favorably to fertilizers. Every spring the bushes need to be fed with nitrogen. Feeding from ash is well absorbed and organic fertilizers during the formation of buds, during flowering.
It is better to apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizers in the fall once every 2-3 years. They are placed on top of the soil under the lilac, followed by digging. This is done due to the fact that part of the root system of the shrub is located in top layer soil. The best fertilizer considered to be rotted manure (horse and cow).
Remember, fertilizing for lilacs is necessary, but you should not get carried away with nitrogen fertilizers, including organic ones, because of them the plant will bloom poorly and be more difficult to tolerate frosts.

How to prune lilacs after flowering?

In early spring, select 6-10 strong shoots on the bush that are furthest apart and create the outline of the plant. Cut off the remaining branches, and cut out the small ones directed inside the crown completely, and shorten the stronger ones a little.
Such thinning and sanitary pruning of lilacs must be carried out every spring, when the buds have already begun to grow.
Pruning is mandatory, otherwise the shoots under the faded flower clusters will weaken. Therefore, as soon as the lilac fades, it should be pruned. The sooner you do this, the better the new shoots will develop and the flowering will be especially lush.

It should be borne in mind that pruning sometimes causes the bush to bloom after a year. Lilacs are formed with pruning shears, and large branches are cut down. The cut areas must be covered with paint.
The basic principle of pruning is to remove all small branches. They do not bloom and can take a lot of energy from the plant.
If the branch has small and thin shoots, you need to remove it completely. Inflorescences must be removed immediately after flowering (only inflorescences without branches are removed).
Never break off a bush; this will damage the buds, which will not bloom next year.
All shoots need to be removed, leaving only healthy shoots that will replace the old ones in the future.
To care for lilacs during flowering, you need to cut branches from abundantly flowering bushes.
After the plant has finished blooming, all dry inflorescences must be carefully cut off.
Be sure to carry out sanitary pruning in spring and autumn with the removal of diseased and drying branches growing inside the bush of shoots. Don't forget about formative pruning, in which you need to make sure that the kidneys remain.
Before you cut and place flowers in a vase, you need to know some tricks to lush inflorescences delighted you longer with their aroma and beauty:
Freshen up the slant cuts by making new ones with a sharp knife under water. The best way- crush the ends of the shoots with a hammer.
It is better to cut lilacs from young bushes than from old ones.
Add a little citric or acetic acid (but not sugar) to the water in which the lilac bouquet stands.
To keep the inflorescences in the bouquet longer, significant part leaves must be removed.

The lilac bush is unpretentious, but despite this, it looks impressive. Anyone, even a beginner, can handle planting and care. By following the rules of planting, watering and pruning, you