Pruning Lilacs

[petunialover]

all those straight up either from the ground or the big branches I can't make them stop. I pruned my lilac like the apple trees, but so much is still coming up from the ground; I mulched, with Rock, and put a border around it to give it definition. I have one in my front yard and two in the vacant lot next door we sort of take care of. I cleaned mine, but not the two monstrosities next door. How can I keep the area around the lilac manicured? Must I keep digging those little suckers out? It's an incredable amount of work.

Thanks,
PL

[The Helpful Gardener]

Dear P.L.

Look through my pruning page for lilacs and you'll see that I think you should be keeping those and cutting old wood. If all you ever keep is old wood the plant gets old and dies. If you keep renewing the canes by taking old ones and letting new growth take its place, you get more flowers at a lower height, and a shrub that pepetuates itself indefinitely...

[url]https://www.helpfulgardener.com/lilacs/03/pruning.html[/url]

Scott

[Grey]

I really have nothing to add - just making the last post a little better. lol.

[The Helpful Gardener]

That's allowed...