lilac shrubs australia

Can you grow lilacs in Australia?

As far as climate goes, Australian growers should generally be fine since lilacs grow everywhere without extreme temperatures either hot or cold. Be sure to plant them somewhere that gets plenty of sun; six hours a day is preferable. Lilacs will grow in spots with less sun but they won't bloom as well.

Where is the best place to plant a lilac bush?

The ideal spot to plant lilacs is in an area with full sun (at least 6 to 8 hours per day)—give them too much shade and they may not bloom. Lilacs also like slightly alkaline, moist, well-drained soil.

Is there a difference between a lilac tree and a lilac bush?

To clear up any confusion, there is no difference between a lilac bush and a lilac tree, they are the same plant just called by different names.

Do lilac bushes come back every year?

Every year after bloom, remove any dead wood. Prune out the oldest canes (down to the ground). ... The upside is less work and more reward, as the lilac will grow back bursting with blooms. It must be recognized that severe pruning results in the loss of blooms for one to three years.

Do lilacs spread?

Lilac bushes will typically flower without any effort from you. However, if left to grow and spread on their own, common lilacs will eventually only flower on the tops of the uppermost branches.

How long does it take for a lilac bush to grow?

Age: Lilac plants need time to grow before they begin flowering. So, if you have a very young plant, it may not be mature enough to bloom. Most plants start blooming after three or four years but some may take as long as six or seven. The blooms for the first few years will be sparse but should increase with time.

Can I plant lilac next to House?

Lilac roots aren't considered invasive and as long as you leave enough space between the tree, or shrub, and the structure, there is little risk from planting lilacs near foundations. Lilac roots generally spread one and one-half times the width of the shrub.

Are coffee grounds good for lilac bushes?

Using Fresh Coffee Grounds

Grow lilacs in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil (at a pH near 7.0). If your soil is in poor condition, add compost to enrich. Lilacs don't like wet feet and will not bloom with too much water.

What should I plant next to my lilac bush?

Herbaceous peonies and tree peonies (Paeonia) are wonderful companions to lilacs. They are compatible in color, fragrance and form, and make each other look better. Plant peonies at your lilac' foot to hide its poorly clad legs and savor the beauty and pervasive perfume they lavish on those who passes-by.

Will vinegar kill a lilac bush?

Will vinegar kill a lilac bush? Salt and vinegar can be combined to create a quick and easy plant killer, which will effectively dehydrate and destroy any undesired bushes in your yard. Mix 1 pound of salt with 1 gallon of 5 percent acetic acid white vinegar.

Can you keep a lilac bush small?

An older lilac may stop blooming if neighboring trees have grown up to cast shade on it. Lilacs need regular renewal pruning to thin them out and control their size. ... Since common lilac is a big shrub or a small tree, growing 8 to 20 feet tall and almost as wide, it can simply be too much shrub for smaller yards.

Should I cover my lilac bush?

Lilacs perform well if protected during the winter. Covering shrubs can prevent some of the major types of winter damage, and should be seriously considered by gardeners living in areas where winters are very harsh, or for plants in highly exposed areas of the garden, such as hillsides.

Do lilac bushes bloom more than once?

Reblooming lilacs will bloom once in the spring, take a rest period and then bloom again in midsummer. Some varieties, like the Bloomerang dark purple, will continue to bloom into the fall after their spring rest.

Are lilac leaves poisonous to dogs?

Are Lilacs Poisonous to Dogs? Lilacs do not contain any chemicals that will poison animals or humans, nor do they irritate the skin. Even though lilac stems, leaves, and flowers pose no health threat to dogs, it is a good idea to keep your dog from chewing on the plant.

Should you Deadhead lilacs?

You must deadhead the lilacs soon after they finish blooming so you don't accidentally remove the new buds and ruin next year's flower cycle. Cut off the old dead flowers as soon as they begin to turn brown and wither.

Can you take a cutting from a lilac bush?

Propagating lilac bushes from cuttings is tricky, but definitely not impossible. Take cuttings of lilac bushes from tender new growth in late spring or early summer. Mature growth is less likely to root. Take several cuttings to increase your chance of success.

How far can you cut back a lilac bush?

One way to renew a large, overgrown lilac is to cut the entire plant back to within 6 to 8 inches of the ground in late winter (March or early April). This severe pruning will induce a large number of shoots to develop during the growing season.

How do you stop lilacs from spreading?

You can install barriers that go down 6 inches or more into the ground that should keep the lilacs from spreading through to your landscape beds. The barrier could be a poly-based material with steel or metal edging. There are many products on the market.

Is Lilac invasive?

common lilac: Syringa vulgaris (Scrophulariales: Oleaceae): Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. Syringa vulgaris L. Plant(s); The new lilac cultivar named Betsy Ross, released by Margaret Pooler of the U.S. National Arboretum, has fragrant white flowers and tolerates powdery mildew.

Are lilac bushes fast growing?

Lilacs are fast-growing shrubs available in hundreds of varieties. All lilac bushes are fast-growing shrubs that add at least 6 to 8 inches of growth per year. The old-fashioned lilac that likely grew in grandma's garden, however, tops the others in its rapid rate of expansion.

Do Lilacs bloom on old wood?

Lilacs are shrubs that bloom on old wood. This means that the flower buds for the next spring's blooming period are set on the growth produced during the prior year. When you prune off this growth, you lose the flower buds—and, by extension, the flowers that they would have brought.