| HOW DO YOU CARE FOR A LILAC TREE/BUSH? I HAVE PLANTED TWO AND HAVE HAD NO SUCCESS. THE LEAVES FELL OFF ONE OF THEM. I WAS TOLD IT HAD ROOT ROT SO I THREE IT IN THE WOODS AND TWO WEEKS LATER IT IS SPROUTING LEAVES. THE OTHER ONE THE LEAVES LOOK LIKE THEY ARE LACKING WATER, DRYING UP. THE BOTTOM LEAVES HAVEN'T FALLEN OFF BUT THE TOP LEAVES LOOK PRUNISH. IS IT OK TO USE A WHITE PLASTIC PROTECTOR ON THE TRUNK OR IS THIS PART OF THE PROBLEM. THE TREE IS CALLED SUMMER CHARM LILAC AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS DEAD, DYING, OR CAN IT BE SALVAGED!! HELP. THANK YOU. WITH THE FIRST TREE I HAD MY IRRIGATION SYSTEM ON TWICE A DAY AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS TOO MUCH. WITH THE SECOND TREE I WATERED IT ONCE A WEEK AND NOW IT LOOKS DRIED OUT. ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. |
| Watering a lilac twice a day is a bit too much. One deep soaking per week - twice if it's really hot - should be all your lilac needs. In general, lilac's like well draining soil and full sunshine. What I would suggest is waiting until this fall when lilac's normally lose their leaves, then digging the plant up, amending the soil with compost or aged manure, then replanting it. Make a watering well or basin beneath the plant and flood the basin, allow to drain, then flood it a second time. Do this once each week during the growing season (unless there's at least an inch of rain per week). Amending the soil will help it drain quickly, yet hold just the right amount of moisture. A watering basin beneath the plant will concentrate the moisture directly over the root system and allow it to trickle down and wet the entire root mass. Both these things should make your lilac happy. Best wishes with your lilac! |
