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Lilac

lydiaannlydiaann Posts: 298
in Problem solving

Has anyone else got a problem with their lilacs?  I have 2 white lilacs which, for the 6 years we've been here, have flowered beautifully and heavily.  Both trees - in separate parts of the garden - are healthy with no leaf drop/curl/yellowing, no bugs of any description and there has been no change in the way they are treated.  Everything in their vicinity is doing very well.  Yet the lilac flowerheads are few and far between this year; I have to say that those which are there are very healthy.  We live in Newark...any ideas?

Posts

  • Mark56Mark56 Posts: 1,653

    When/if did you prune? Are they still receiving the same amount of sunlight (6+ hours) or is something shading them from above? You can prune after flowering to encourage more growth which will carry the flowers for next year. 

  • mushermusher Posts: 389

    Yes Lydiaann

    Yes I'm having the same problem. I've noticed that the leaves are slightly smaller this year. I prune immediatley after flowering.

  • lydiaannlydiaann Posts: 298

    I pruned - as always - immediately after flowering.  The one tree is, I must admit, more shaded this year because of extreme growth (which has happened everywhere) of the trees behind.  However, the other is receiving exactly the same amount of light as always.  We have finally received permission to prune the trees of the 'medieval hedge' behind our property (subjectg to a TPO) which will help somewhat with tree no. 1 but I don't think that's the whole problem.  I'm glad to hear that I am not alone, Musher, although I must admit that there is no difference in leaf size in my trees.  Well, we'll just cherish the few flower heads we do have and hope for better things next year!!image.  Thanks for your input, Forkers: as always, I knew I could rely on someone out there! 

    Happy gardening in this beautiful - and slightly warmer, thank goodness - weather!

  • Mark56Mark56 Posts: 1,653

    I admit mine aren't so great this year either, I also have to cut back the beech trees that are overshadowing them. I wonder if it has anything to do with the cold change in weather & recent, unexpected frost re: leaf size, as mine are super early this year. 

    Last edited: 02 May 2017 11:54:24

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