Lilac bush bloom

"I was given a small lilac bush from a friend's garden several years ago. I'm so disappointed that it doesn't bloom every spring. How can I get it to bloom?"

Gardening expert Melinda Myers: Shade and improper pruning can prevent lilacs from blooming. Make sure your plant gets at least six hours of sunlight. If not, consider moving it to a sunny spot. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizer, as this can prevent blooming. If you want blooms next spring, prune lilacs only after their normal blooming period in early summer. Pruning at other times will remove flower buds and your spring blooms. Why we love lilacs: They are long-lived enough to survive a long time in a home, and a lilac bush needs little more than regular watering for its first year.

Do lilacs need full sun?

"When and where should I plant lilac bushes? Do they need full sun?" asks reader Elizabeth Williams of Portland, Oregon. Melinda: Lilacs bloom best in full sun, with at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. Plant your lilacs in moist, well-drained soil. They prefer neutral to slightly alkaline soil. Portland soil tends to be slightly acidic, so it’s a good idea to test your soil before adding lime to adjust the soil’s pH.

Do lilacs like acidic soil?

“My lilac bushes have never bloomed. They get some direct sunlight, but they do get some shade. The soil is acidic from the pine and oak trees. Is that the problem?” asks reader Joan Eastman of Lovell, Maine. Melinda Myers: Green needles and oak leaves have little or no effect on soil acidity. Additionally, acidic soil can cause leaf discoloration and stunted growth, not just a lack of flowers.

The shade of these trees may be the culprit. Lilacs bloom best with at least six hours of direct sunlight. Too much nitrogen fertilizer and improper pruning can lead to a lack of blooms. Be gentle with fertilizing, and prune lilacs only when necessary after they have finished blooming. These plants form their flower buds in the summer, and then the buds open the following spring. Backyard Tip Do you really like lilacs, but want them to bloom for a longer period? Check out new reblooming lilac options like Bloomerong Purple from Proven Winners. New Age White Lilac is another fresh update on the classic shrub.