pruning lilacs

[kims]

I have a 5 ft lilac shrub which is doing very poorly. Each branch is bare except for about a dozen leaves on the tip. It had a few flowers but very tiny. I'm assuming it is in need of pruning but from what I read, that should be done in March or April. As it is extremely unattractive, can I prune it down almost to the ground now, knowing it probably won't flower next season? Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

[Newt]

Hi Kims,

I'm hoping by now that you have an answer to your lilac problem. If not, I would suggest you only prune one third of the oldest stems to the ground each year. New shoots take about 5 to 7 years before they bloom. Your lilac should be getting full sun. I'm wondering if the soil could be very compacted. You could sprinkle a cup of lime around the root zone and scratch it in as lilacs prefer a more alkaline soil. You could also topdress the root zone with 1" of compost and then 2" of an organic mulch. Here's some helpful info on growing lilacs from the International Lilac Society.
http://lilacs.freeservers.com//lilac_tips.html

Newt

[Freddi]

Thank you for your link, Newt. I found it very helpful.

I haven't given up on my "volunteer" yet!
_________________
Freddi Dunleavey
Highmount, NY