Dwarf lilac syringa
karenchiltonpostbox2MGlH9WK
Posts: 8
in Plants
Hello
I bought a syringa last year and I'm not sure how best to prune it. It's I supposed to, or rather the intention was, to grow a single stem with a rounded lilac on top. However, this is the first year and it seems to be growing quite vigorously.
Several additional stems have grown out from the base and the flowers are buried in between some tall stems. Should I cut these stems down? And will I damage the tree if I cut back the additional stems growning from the base please?
Many thanks for any help and advice.
Kind regards
Karen
I bought a syringa last year and I'm not sure how best to prune it. It's I supposed to, or rather the intention was, to grow a single stem with a rounded lilac on top. However, this is the first year and it seems to be growing quite vigorously.
Several additional stems have grown out from the base and the flowers are buried in between some tall stems. Should I cut these stems down? And will I damage the tree if I cut back the additional stems growning from the base please?
Many thanks for any help and advice.
Kind regards
Karen
0
Posts
The reason that the flowers are hidden is because your plant is so happy that it has put on all the new growth and has hidden them.
Next year’s flowers are going to be made on all that new growth. Cut it off and you won’t have any flowers.
If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
Can you remember the name of your Lilac?
Grafted onto something else.
It is reverting.
Do you have different leaves on the one plant?
I will leave advice to others.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Syringa+meyeri+palibin+leaves&rlz=1C1CHBF_enGB785GB785&sxsrf=APq-WBuCW5sfO0KBnX6-zjgXB9eCCbNMIw:1650229263174&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwin2p2I_5v3AhXQa8AKHXg5CKIQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1280&bih=520&dpr=1.5#imgrc=cN9KPinlJMc2wM
https://www.google.com/search?q=syringa+meyeri+palibin+standard&rlz=1C1CHBF_enGB785GB785&sxsrf=APq-WBse_8jOl5KhrA_R2UC-bE_OJwa1JQ:1650229169221&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwips7fb_pv3AhVMZcAKHaFcAsUQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1280&bih=520&dpr=1.5
I just checked the leaves. They seem the same though different sizes...
Other larger leaves which are pointed are the reverted growth and need to be removed.
They will grow more quickly than dwarf part of the shrub.
They will take over.
But not sure when the best time to remove them is.
What do others suggest.
Looked on www ......Syringa reticulata is used as the root stock for the dwarf lilacs.
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/4419551/rootstock-for-lilacs
https://www.google.com/search?q=syringa+reticulata.+leaves&client=firefox-b-d&sxsrf=APq-WBt1eyzHvpfp4Q67reKc1BmM6uXTMw:1650232505218&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiTspSSi5z3AhUSmVwKHex1DmAQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1276&bih=595&dpr=1.5
Really appreciate the guidance. I don't know what I'd do without this forum. I can't belive how quickly this varied from the one I bought!
I've just had a closer look at this and you're correct. The main stem is topped with a small ball of round leaves whilst the outer larger leaves are all derived from new stems growing from ground level or higher. It's almost as if they are stealing all the growth from the main flowery part in the middle. But at the same time it feels a bit harsh to cut them all away.
Hoping someone in here can advise.
The root stock is fast growing, powerful.
It is literally stealing all the nutrients. it will choke and smother the very slow Syringa meyeri palibin ...until nothing of it can be seen.
If you had wanted a huge lilac you could have bought one.
IF it was mine I would take a risk and cut all the wrong stems off now.