Lillac bush question???

[FlatBottom]

When is the best time to trim a lillac bush? Mine are getting a bit out of hand. The wife loves them so I don't want to kill them.

[fishinchicks]

I was told that anytime now would be good. That is on hubby's honey-do list for this winter!

[sparcebag]

Right after they flower and the flowers are gone,take off all flower stalks and trim inside to let more light in.You can top them to make them smaller but dont expect many flowers next year.

[LwnmwnMan2]

Quote:

---

Right after they flower and the flowers are gone,take off all flower stalks and trim inside to let more light in.You can top them to make them smaller but dont expect many flowers next year.

---

This is the correct answer.

Late June if you don't want to lose a majority of the flowers.

Right now, they already have the buds set for next year.

You won't harm the plant any if you do it now, you may just have less flowers.

[FlatBottom]

Thanks for all of the input. Ya, it's a bit honey-do and a bit I better do. See I have two large bushes right under the line that goes to my house from the power pole and I don't want them to eventually rub on the line. I don't know how tall they get, but right now they are about three feet from the line. I figure if a do it sooner than later I'll just have less brush to dispose of.

[Powerstroke]

What LWN said. Most lilacs will get 12-15ft tall if you let them. If you want to do some trimming now I would consider a thinning as much as a topping. Its a good rule of thumb to remove no more than 1/3. Start with the thickest woody stalks. This should reduce the height and the density of the plants. Once that is done you can do some selective pruning to control the height.

Again, now is a fine time to do pruning of any kind, but if the flowers are a high priority, then you should wait till summer and they are done blooming.