posted
I have noticed that when I cut my blooms off my lilac bushes for bouquets, the bush doens't flower as heartily the following year. I have seen enourmous bushes and wonder if that's the secret to lots of blooms, not to cut the flowers. But whats the point if you want that lovely fragrance in your home? Please help. Thanks.
Plants: 2 | From: Portland, OR | Registered: Apr 2004
| Seeded: 63.105.22.42
Jiffymouse
guest
posted
hi trina i don't have your answer, but wanted to welcome you to the garden helper.
Seeded: 12.77.201.234
Quite the contrary! You've picked a fine time to cut the lilacs. If you cut them while they're blooming, you'll not only get to enjoy them indoors, you will also be preventing the blossoms from wasting their energies on producing sterile seeds, so that next year they'll have better blossoms. I cut mine, and after the bush has bloomed, I snap off as many spent blossoms as I can reach.
If your lilacs didn't bloom as heavily, it may be that they want some fertilization after their blooming period. Let's see if one of our fertilization experts shows up to tell us how that's done. But you go ahead and make some bouquets.
posted
thank you for your reply! I didn't even think about fertilizer! But I'm definately a newbie when it comes to gardening. Thanks for your tip.
Plants: 2 | From: Portland, OR | Registered: Apr 2004
| Seeded: 63.105.22.42
posted
hi trina (& bess) i was reminded about this page on lilacs http://www.thegardenhelper.com/Syringa.htm right here on the garden helper! let me know how it helps!
Seeded: 12.77.200.36
posted
My 7 year old daughter LOVES to pick flowers. I am always telling her not to touch the flowers in our neighbor's gardens...well needless to say mom forgot to remind her not to touch the flowers in my gardens unless I tell her it is ok (I plant a small cutting garden for her each year just for this purpose)...well 2 years ago she cut every single lilac bloom off my favorite bush that she could reach. My bush looked more like a tree when she was done with it, as she totally cleared 3/4 of my branches off completely. I was so sad, but I had to bite my tongue when she presented mommy with the BIGGEST lilac bouquet I had ever seen with such a smile of excitement on her face I just couldn't be mad. In any event I feared my bush was destroyed, but they all came back the following year without any problems:)
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![[wayey]](graemlins/wavey.gif)
hi trina 
Printer-friendly view of this garden