Common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is a flowering shrub from the Olive family. There are about 35 species of this plant and more than 2 thousand different varieties. Lilacs can be used to create interesting landscaping in the garden, and lilacs can also be used to reinforce slopes that are exposed to ruptures. This article will tell you in detail about the rules for planting, growing and caring for the garden, pruning and breeding lilacs.
Description of the lilac shrub
Lilac is a multi-stemmed and deciduous shrub that can grow from 2 to 8 meters in height. The diameter of the trunk of a siren can be up to 20 cm. The bark is gray-brown, smooth in young, with small cracks in old ones. The leaves are whole or pinnately separate. They can be oval, heart-shaped, ovoid, or elongated, light or dark green in color. The flowers are white, lilac, purple, blue, violet or pink, collected in panicles, most often drooping. Lilac bloom occurs in all species in different ways. But usually this happens in the period from the second decade of April to the very June. During flowering, the shrub smells very tasty. The aroma is very pleasant and delicate. The seeds ripen in a bivalve box.
Lilac is one of the favorites of all gardeners. Does not need special care, is not afraid of frost and can live up to 100 years.
Planting lilacs in open ground
A good time for planting lilacs is the second decade of July and the first decade of September. In autumn and spring, it is better not to plant lilacs, as it will take root for a long time and grow slowly. Planting lilacs is best in a well-lit area. The soil should be moderately moist and rich in humus.
When buying lilac seedlings, it is imperative to carefully examine the root system. It is best to choose those in which it is developed and well-branched. Immediately before planting, the roots must be carefully trimmed to 30 cm, the damaged and dried parts must be removed. The distance between seedlings should be 2-3 m.
To plant lilacs, you must first prepare the pits. In fertile soil, the size of the hole should be slightly larger than the root system of the seedling. And in the poor soil of the pit, more must be done so that there is room for fertile soil (humus + superphosphate + wood ash). In order for the soil to be well-drained, it is necessary to place a small layer of rubble, expanded clay or broken brick on the bottom. Then cover it with fertile soil, pouring it with a slide. Then the seedling must be placed on a mound and carefully spread the roots, covered with fertile soil and slightly crushed. After planting, the seedling needs to be watered abundantly, and then thoroughly mulch the soil with peat or humus.
Caring for lilacs in the garden
Lilac care is quite simple. In the first decade of summer, it is necessary to carry out abundant and regular watering, at least 25 liters of water should go to one bush. From the second half of summer, watering should be slightly reduced and the shrub should be watered only in dry weather.At least 4 times per season, it is necessary to loosen the soil in the territory of the trunk circle. Weeds should also be removed regularly. If you regularly carry out all these simple activities, then after 5 years a large and lush lilac bush will grow from a small seedling.
Top dressing and fertilizers
It is necessary to feed lilacs in the first 2-3 years with a small amount of nitrogen. In the second year, you need to add more urea and ammonium nitrate. But it is best to give preference to organic fertilizers, such as slurry. To prepare such a top dressing, one part of cow dung must be diluted with five parts of water. It is necessary to introduce such organic matter no closer than 1.5 m from the trunk of the lilac.
Fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus must be applied once every 2-3 years. Potassium nitrate and double superphosphate must be applied to the soil to a depth of 6-8 cm; after application, it is imperative to water the soil. The above mineral fertilizers can be replaced with ordinary ash diluted in water.
Transfer
It is necessary to transplant lilac two years after planting a seedling. The shrub very quickly draws out all the nutrients from the soil and even regular fertilization cannot fully restore them. Therefore, on such soil, lilacs will not be able to actively grow and bloom profusely.
It is necessary to transplant lilac bushes at the end of May, when the flowering period ends. For transplanting, you need to prepare the pits in advance, then carefully dig out the bush and move it on an oilcloth to a new planting site. It is necessary to transplant lilacs together with an earthen lump, so it will take root faster. Before planting, it is necessary to remove all damaged, dry and unnecessary parts of the shrub. After the bush should be placed in a prepared hole and well sprinkled with fertile soil. After planting, you need to water the shrub abundantly.
Pruning
Shrubs that are less than three years old do not need pruning. But a three-year-old bush needs to start forming a crown. This will take about 2-3 years. Pruning should be done in early spring, before the plant wakes up from its winter sleep. You only need to leave 5-7 strong and beautifully arranged branches, and the rest must be removed. In the second year, even flowering shoots will need to be removed. After pruning, no more than eight live buds should remain on one main branch. This is necessary in order not to overload the shrub during flowering. It is also necessary to remove all damaged, dry and improperly growing branches that interfere with the proper growth and development of the bush.
Bloom
In spring, when the lilac begins to actively bloom and delight with its beauty, it is also necessary to take care of the bush. It is imperative to collect May beetles. Prune more than half of the flowering shoots so that they form more intensively next year. After the flowering period is over, it is necessary to remove all inflorescences that have already faded and dried.
Lilac after flowering
Adult lilac bushes do not need additional shelter for the winter, but young ones, on the contrary. The soil around young seedlings in the fall must be mulched with a thick layer of sawdust, peat or dry foliage. This will help the seedlings that have not yet matured to endure the winter frosts more easily.
Reproduction of lilac
Only experienced gardeners who work in the nursery can propagate lilacs by seeds. Therefore, if there is a need to propagate lilacs in the garden, then it is better to do this with the help of grafting, layering or cuttings. The seedlings obtained by such methods take root better and faster in a new place, and also have a high level of frost resistance.
Diseases and pests
Lilacs can attack diseases such as powdery mildew, verticillosis, bacterial rot, bacterial necrosis and bacterial rot. Of the harmful insects, leaf or bud mites, hawk moth, lilac moth, miner moth.
With bacterial necrosis, the leaves become ashtray gray, and the shoots become brown or brown. To prevent this disease from appearing, it is necessary to regularly prune and remove harmful insects from the lilac.
If signs of infection with bacterial rot are found on the shrub, then it is necessary to immediately carefully treat the shrub with copper oxychloride and repeat the treatment at least three times with an interval of ten days.
When affected by powdery mildew, the leaves are covered with a light gray bloom. You need to fight the disease as soon as the first signs appear. The affected areas must be removed and burned outside the garden, then carefully treated with a solution of fungicides.
It is necessary to fight verticilliasis by spraying the bush with a solution of laundry soap or calcium enrichment soda. All damaged blooms must be removed, foliage collected around the bush and burned outside the garden.
Pest insects need to be fought with the help of careful treatment of the bushes with special insecticide solutions.
Types and varieties of lilac
More than 30 types of lilacs are known. The most popular of them will be described in detail below.
Amur lilac (Syringa amurensis) - This species tolerates shade well and prefers moist soil. It can grow up to 10 m in height. Leaves are dark green, orange-purple in autumn. The flowers are white or cream in color and have a pleasant honey aroma. The Amur lilac is frost-resistant and does not need shelter for the winter.
Hungarian lilac (Syringa josikaea) - can grow up to 7 m in height. Shoots are dense, branched and directed upwards. Leaves are broadly elliptical, glossy, dark green in color. The flowers are lilac. This type is unpretentious and easy to care for.
Meyer's lilac (Syringa meyeri) - this species is quite frost-resistant. It grows no higher than 1.5 m. The leaves are broadly elliptical, dark green above and light green below. The flowers are lilac-pink.
Persian lilac (Syringa x persica) - reaches a height of about 3 m. Leaves are lanceolate, thin and pointed at the ends. The flowers are light purple.
Chinese lilac (Syringa x chinensis) - bush up to 5 m high. Leaves are ovate-lanceolate, pointed at the ends. Fragrant flowers of bright lilac or red-lilac color.
Lilac hyacinth (Syringa x hyacinthiflora) - leaves are broadly ovate or heart-shaped, pointed at the end, dark green in color. The flowers have a pleasant aroma and a delicate lilac-pink color. This species has incredibly beautiful varieties with double flowers.
There are many more commonly grown species and varieties of lilacs. Each gardener chooses the most suitable one. Therefore, almost all of the known garden species of lilacs are considered popular.
