Lilacs

[Costumelover]

Thanks! Should I cut off browned leaves (or mostly browned branches) or leave them as is?

BTW, I haven't trimmed it this year (except for flowers when they became old) and I just read here in an article lilacs should be trimmed after they flowered but before the end of Summer. Is it not too late to trim it now?

[barbszy]

Goodness--was I supposed to be trimming my lilac?

I guess it would be good if I gave it a little shape. The thing appears to be thriving on neglect (and the birds love sitting in it, since it's right next to my feeder)

[Costumelover]

Originally Posted by Brenda H.

It doesn't look like it has mildew.

Could it be Phyllosticta leaf spots?

[Brenda H.]

I don't think so-- I had a maple with it, and it looks a lot different-- more blackish.

You don't have to prune your lilac normally. At least I haven't, but it depends on if you want it "shaped". If you prune right after it blooms it's okay, but NO other time. It will cut off the blooms that are forming for spring. I actually need to prune mine now-- we've lived here 3 years and it's looking a little wild. You can prune about 1/3 off of it to shape it after bloom.

[Gardenlady3]

If you have a cooperative extension near you(ours is through our county & Purdue University), a Master Gardener or the local agent could also figure out what's wrong with it. This is free & they have access to all kinds of info. It is too late to trim your lilac if you don't want to sacrifice some of next year's flowers. They set buds for next year about 6 weeks after blooming. If you don't mind that, you can trim/shape your bush. Are there some kind of spots on the leaves that have not gotten brown? It looks like that to me & I would take some of them in too. I went through the Master Gardener program here in NW Indiana in 2001.

Gloria

[barbszy]

Thank you for the info on trimming. I will do this next spring then! I don't want to mess up my favorite tree!