BC Living
How to Support BC Wineries Now
Embark on Culinary Adventures: 5 Must-Try Solo Dining Experiences Around BC
You Gotta Try this in April 2024
4 Tips on Balancing a Nutritious Diet with a Side of Indulgence
Choosing Connection: A BC Family Day Pledge to Prioritize Presence Over Plans
Embracing Plant-Based Living this Veganuary and Beyond
Inviting the Steller’s Jay to Your Garden
6 Budget-friendly Holiday Decor Pieces
Dream Home: $8 Million for a Modern Surprise
Protected: Spring into Fun in Kamloops: The Best Events in the City
Travel Light, Travel Right: Minimalist Packing Tips for Solo Explorers
A Solo Traveller’s Guide to Cozy Accommodations
Melodies and Museums: Solo-Friendly Entertainment for the Independent Traveller
Arts Club Theatre Company Celebrates 60 Years
Films and TV Series that Inspire Solo Travel
8 Gadgets and Gear for Your Solo Adventures
A Solo Traveller’s Guide to Souvenir Hunting in BC
Sḵwálwen Botanicals – Changing the Face of Skincare
Lilac bushes are fairly low maintenance, but that doesn't mean you can't give them a little nudge in the right direction
When caring for lilacs, make sure to pay special attention to the following tips:
Sun Power: Lilacs flower best in full sun. They are undemanding, drought-tolerant plants that will grow in most soils as long as they have good drainage. Feed with a sprinkling of lime and some well-rotted manure or an all-purpose fertilizer in early spring.
Lilace Facelifts: To rejuvenate a straggly plant, remove one-third of the trunks at the base every year for three years. Keep the strongest of the new growth and remove any additional suckers on a regular basis.
Summer Buds: Spring blooms emerge from buds that developed during the previous summer. So, do any additional pruning immediately after the flowers fade.
Pest and Diseases: French lilacs in particular can suffer from powdery mildew in summer. Most gardeners turn a blind eye to it, knowing that it will not affect the vigour of the plant. Choose one of the little-leaf lilacs like ‘Miss Kim’ for better health.
Leaf miner is an occasional problem, showing up as scorched brown blotches. Remove leaves as soon as you see symptoms, bag them and put into the garbage.
Originally published in BC Home & Garden magazine. For regular updates, subscribe to our free Home and Garden e-newsletters, or purchase a subscription to the magazine.