Rejuvenation pruning is for old or overgrown lilac bushes that have been neglected, says Langelo. Neglected bushes are overgrown with dense stems, little growth at the bottom, and few blooms.

Q. I have a very old lilac bush that is in need of some pruning. When and how do I tackle this task? A. Most lilacs bloom on old wood, so it is important to prune only in late spring after they ...

New lilac buds from on old wood. So if you start snipping in summer, fall or in spring before they bloom, you’ll cut off the forming buds and the plant will not bloom. Key takeaway: Spring ...

Eventually the lilac will fill in with lush new growth and more flowers lower on the bush. In addition to pruning old wood, each year clip faded flowers just above the first pair of buds to ...

I have two lilac bushes that are 4 years old. Usually, they survive the winters in Northeast Ohio without any problems. However, this past winter was very harsh, and my lilac bushes did not do well.

Q: We have a line of several old lilac bushes on the south side of our property along a gravel road. They are more like trees at this point, as some must be at least 15 feet tall and have trunks ...

8. Control the height — If you’re worried about your lilac bush growing too tall, you should remove any particularly old, thick stems — 2 inches plus in size. You may need the lopping shears ...

Over the next couple of years, take out the remaining two thirds of the old stems. Your lilac bush should respond and fill in with lush, healthy new growth from the base, with more flowers on the ...

Q: I have an old lilac bush that looks OK, but its trunk and branches are coated with a yellow moss that doesn’t brush off easily. Will this hurt the lilac? How can I get it off? A: It’s most ...

I look forward to daily checking my mail because of the lilac bush by the mailbox. It is an old bush, planted a few generations ago, and produces an abundance of purple blooms during April and May.

1. Stop and smell the flowers. Drive along most county backroads, especially ones sprinkled with old farms, and you’ll come across plenty of large lilac bushes in shades of purple and white.