|
| I have 2 miniature lilacs that were given to me about 3 years ago. When I received them they were so tiny I'm amazed they survived.
The problem is that one of them is growing to be a bush with many branches..the way it should grow, and the other has a few very short (maybe 3") stems at ground level and one long branch that is the same height as the other shrub. It is possible that is was hit by the weed-wacker last year. Anyway, I want to even them out, but I'm not sure how to. Should I cut both of them way back after flowering? Or, should I just leave them alone and hope that eventually the small branches catch up? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
|
Follow-Up Postings:
|
| Hard to understand your post. Lilies aren't "bushes." |
|
| I didn't say lilies... I said lilacs. |
|
- Posted by thisismelissa z4a-S Twin Cities MN (My Page) on Thu, Mar 25, 10 at 10:25
| Immediately after flowering, I would cut them back to about the same height, but be careful to not remove more than about 1/3 of the total growth as that can stunt the plant. It may take a couple of years of effort to achieve similar results. One thing that came to mind is sunlight. Is the wimpy one getting as much sun? Did it come to you with a good root system? |
|
- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Thu, Mar 25, 10 at 11:07
| if it were me.. i would put away the shears .. and walk away .. and let the shrubs do what they want to do ... what are you doing??? think about it... tongue in cheek mind you ... you have one that is struggling ... [and BTW... gently dig around the crown.. and see if it somehow ended up planted too deep ..] so anyway .. you have one that is struggling.. and you want to massacre the one that is thriving.. so that ... to your eye.. they are the same ... really???? does that make much sense when clarified as such ... anyway ... they are lilacs.. run them over with the truck.. or car .. and do what ever you want ... they wont care ... and yes.. enjoy whatever flower you get .. enjoy the show.. then rev up the vehicle ... you can barely kill a lilac.. but .. again.. there may be some underlying reason the second one is not thriving... so check that out good luck ken PS for google.. use RENOVATION PRUNING OF SHRUBS.... its all there ... do not cut at height .... it is all done relatively close to the ground ... about at bumper height ... rotflmbo .... |
|
| Thank you Melissa and Ken. Ken, you are very funny. I didn't considering it massacre... I was thinking of it as "hard pruning". If they were planted anywhere other than infront of my deck I wouldn't care about them being the same size, but they are kind of a focal point. I wasn't sure if all varieties of lilac are as hardy as the ones that grow like weeds around here. Glad to know that I can run the miniatures over with the truck. LOL Honestly, I think they are both thriving and they get the same amount of sun. I think the problem is that the one got hit with the weedwacker last year and no one confessed! |
|
- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Thu, Mar 25, 10 at 12:23
| hey i live with a wife and an 8 and 11 year old ... its a mystery to me.. how all these things get damaged around the house.. and yet.. though implying i did it.. i have no recall of it .... you really ought to properly ID your specific dwarf ... and insure i have not overstated the trucks abilities ... i am not aware of grafted lilac ... but you obviously can trim a graft too far back .... if it were mine.. i wouldnt care ... but since its yours.. i will suggest caution ... where is gal??? lacey.. you cracked me up ... ken |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Shrubs Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.