Shrubs
If you are thinking of plant a lilac shrub in a pot or container , there are several important factor you ’ll need to retrieve for a successful planting . In this clause , certified master gardener Liz Jaros walk through 14 of her top tips for grow lilacs in pots or container this season !
Known for their marvelous height , distinctive scent , and loose , arching form , lilacs are typically chosen by property owner and landscape fashion designer who need tofill a enceinte , sunny spacewith alow - sustenance , cosmetic plant . I make for them when I ’m project a living fencing or a subtle , privacy CRT screen . Or when I need a corner shrub with a classic , bungalow vibe .
Lilacs are tight - growing , beautiful , and really hard to kill . In landscape intention , that ’s a trifecta of honorable plant timbre , especially when you ’re forge with officious clients who are n’t going to be out there every daytime nursing the backyard greenery .
When recommending works materials for a patio , balcony or rooftop garden , however , lilacs do not like a shot come to listen . They have large root systems and command salutary drainage – two payoff that ca n’t always be guaranteed by your average flora container .
But if you think outside the clay flock , and if you ’re willing to give them a lilliputian excess attention , lilacs can perform wonderfully in a more urban or hardscape setting . Here are 14 of my top tips that you could put in property to up the odds ofsuccessfully growing lilac in container .
Contents
Choose Small Varieties
With the lilac genus featuring more than 20 species and thousands of cultivars , your choice might seem consuming . Sincesome type of lilacscan grow to heights of 30 groundwork or more and require Lot of room to ramble , rent ’s rule out anything thatexceeds 8 metrical foot in heightright off . That lead us with plenty of dwarfs and mid - sized shrubs to view . Here are a few that should respond well to being contain :
Round in figure and maxing out at4 - 5 foot , this denseflowering shrubproduces individual pinkish peak in mid to late outpouring .
This heavyset beauty can be purchased as alow mound shrubor a lollipop - form Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Known for its red flower buds , Tinkerbelle opens in late spring to early summer . Bright fleeceable leave provide nice contrast . stature maxes at 6 foot .
Available in shades of pinkish , purple , and white , Bloomerangs also stay stocky , with a2 - 6 foot spreading , depending on variety . The cool matter is , they will flower again if youdeadhead them immediatelyafter the first blooms have languish .
Also a rebloomer , Josee have star shaped flowers that deal the bush almost completely in later spring . Habit is rounded and top out off at4 - 6 feet .
This cultivar pack a biff in early spring with declamatory purple flower bud that open to true lavender blooms . usable in size ranging from mini to standard ( 2 - 8 feet magniloquent and wide ) . Miss Kim ’s leavesturn burgundy in fall , make these cultivars a good choice for three time of year interest .
Use The Biggest Pot You Can
Lilacs have very large ancestor organization . Expect them to be as wide as the flora ’s leaf or canopy , and choose a container that can accommodate rapid maturation . When lilac roots are crowded , inflorescence will be reduced , and that defeats the purpose of feature these beauties on the patio . And generally speaking , more soil means less supplemental watering . Another reason to go big .
Ideally , your container should be as wide as your lilac variety ’s fledged width . And it should be as cryptic as it is wide . Shoot for dope that are at least 2 base wide and 2 feet in high spirits for the smallest lilac , and increase dimensions as much as potential to accommodate prominent lilac .
Mind Your Materials
As long as you construct in some drain ( we ’ll get to that in a instant ) , almost anything can be used to control your lilacs in an above ground setting . For large scale terrace or rooftop garden , this might stand for a concrete plantation owner built into the hardscape or a one-half paries of wooden box seat . In smaller context , acolorful stiff potor a composite material container might be more appropriate .
Here ’s a look at some of the materials often selected for container garden habit , as well as some of the pros and cons for each :
Pots made from clay are poriferous , which help with flow of air , but also race up vaporization . They can beextremely punishing and are prone to breakage . pick out clay pots only if you intend to piss diligently and will not ask to move your lilac around for any rationality .
These containers will helpkeep temperatureseven , but be deliberate not to overwater since they will keep back more moisture . Plastic and composite materials are ideal for modest decks where weight might be an outlet .
A good choice for contemporary patio design , cement pots and planters also asseverate even dirt temperatures , but they will be lumbering andhard to move around .
Mrs. Henry Wood planter can make good lilac containers as long as you ’re certain they have not been treated with chemical . However , you may expecta lot of dirt to enfeeble on your patiodue to their poriferous nature . And territory will dry out quicker , so you will have to stay on top of watering .
Aluminum and copper tubs are pop choices for large - form container gardens , but theycan easily overheat . On affectionate days , temps will be uttermost in the proscribed few inches of dirt . These container should only be used if they are broad enough to keep beginning from burn up at bottom , and in preferences where sunshine is filtrate or partial .
Ensure Proper Drainage
Examine your good deal ’ drain holes and verify weewee has an adequate escape path . Standing wateris one of the biggest causes of poor lilac health and weakened flush production .
If you ’re working with reuse container , verify existing cakehole are clear and are between ¼ inch and ½ in in diam . shoot for to coverabout 20 % of your container ’s bottom surfacewith drainage holes . Using this as a rough usher , lend more holesusing the appropriate sized drill bit ( or a hammer and a screwdriver ) to achieve this proportion .
Rocks and wiped out pot pieces are not recommended for skunk bottoms , as they are more likely to clog and hinder drainage than are unclouded , open golf hole .
Use The Right Soil
In a typical container garden , straight potting soil is the norm . It ’s light , well - drained , and nutritionally balanced . And for a seasonal annual pot or herbaceous plant garden , asoilless mixwill do just fine .
A with child shrub need a petty more constancy , however , so I ordinarily combine a fiddling garden dirt and/or compost into the potting mix to make a foundation that ’s slimly sticky and dense . Shoot for a container smorgasbord that combines roughly10 per centum compostto 50 percent potting admixture to 40 percent garden soil and verify it ’s soundly compound before planting .
Since lilacs prefer neutral to slightly alkaline soil , strive for apH equipoise of 6.5 to 7.0 . If potential , do a soil test to ascertain the admixture in your container is lilac - friendly .
hydrated lime and bone meal can be used to bring the acidity down if called for . Adding peat moss or sulfur to the mixture will increase acidity , but should only be done if pH levels are highly high .
Plant High Inside The Pot
If possible , pop out with a container produce lilac since its source system will already be limited . Ifroots appear denseand compact when your plant life is removed from its growing container , loosen them with a garden tool or mark them vertically with a blade in three or four locating .
Once the soil in your container is combined good , remove enough of it to hold your lilac ’s root ball so that the crown will posture slimly below the rim of your container . Remember that a heavy root base will in all probability sink a bit after it settles .
Backfill around the rootball to a level that ’s just below the crown . You want to make certain your lilac ’s stem protrude from the point of the mounded shit , not from a concave center . A sunken crown willmake your lilac more prone to rotand disease . You desire piss to run out down and to the sides .
Place Your Container in The Sun
Lilacs require at least6 hours of sunand , with many cultivars that canthrive in very sunny climates . They will profit from a placement that is blistering in the afternoon . While they will survive in a slightly shady spot , they will not bloom well or grow as quickly . They will also be more vulnerable to shade - related conditions such as powdery mold .
Water Diligently
The size of your pot will determine how often your potted lilac ask to be water . A larger intensity of soil will hold water system longer , and you might be able-bodied to go a few solar day between watering . But a smaller proportion of roots to dirt means you should check them every day , or at least every other day .
tearing should be concentrated at your lilac ’s rootsand not its leaves , as they are prostrate to fungous conditions . employ a watering can or shower setting on your hosiery nozzle to soak but not drench the shite surrounding the flora .
go forward watering into fall , but stop when lilac lose its parting and enters dormancy . Begin water again next time of year when soil has dethaw in early spring .
Add a Layer of Mulch
To keep your potted lilac from drying out between waterings , add a level of constituent mulcharound its base . Wood micro chip , pine bark , sawdust , hay , leaves , or a level of compost all oeuvre well in potbelly .
Be careful not to pile any materials up to around your lilac ’s trunk or stems , keeping a 6 - inch radius whole mulch - free . This will discourage issues with rotting and cuss .
Fertilize for Blooms, Not Leaves
Lilacs are unattackable feeder and do not typically need more than an other bounce slam of fertilizer . This also holds rightful of lilac grow in containers . Look forgranules , capitulum , or a dull release formulathat will deliver nutrient gradually each time you water .
Deadhead After Flowering
Since many of the small lilac well suited to being farm in a container are repetition boo-boo , you shouldremove faded flowersin belated spring to early summertime to encourage another wave .
To deadhead your lilac , prune off spent rosiness with a sharp cut just above the first set of leave of absence you encounter as you slew your fingers down their stems . This will further your lilac ’s roots to send up new bud for a second bloom in mid - summertime . Some cultivar will even send up a third bloom in late summertime .
If you do n’t deadhead regularly , this can touch on theblooming frequency of your lilac . So , it ’s significant to quell up on this routine maintenance job in social club to keep the beautiful blooms you ’ve amount to love and have a bun in the oven .
Prune Annually
Like earth - grown lilacs , potted lilacs willbenefit from an annual pruningand clean up . This should be done forthwith after they ’re done blooming for the season , as lilacs set bud for next year ’s bloom curtly after this year ’s cycle per second is complete .
Take the followingsteps to do this quotidian maintenanceon your potted lilacs :
Monitor For Stress
While lilac are moderately hardy and repellent to disease , they do have some vulnerabilities andshould be monitor regularly for signs of strain . Every prison term you irrigate , be on the lookout for the following possible emergence :
By far the most common lilac affliction , powdery mold represent with white , chalky leaf splotchesthat turn gray or black later in the time of year . Typically , your first signs of it will appear on lower leaves in times of gamy humidity and moisture .
luckily , powdery mould is more of an aesthetic issue than a health issue , and your lilac should fully recover by the following season . Cut off affected leave , or discount them completely until the flowering season is over , then give your lilac a adept prune .
Thin your lilac ’s al-Qa’ida toencourage good aviation circulation . right away remove fallen leaves and branches , as mildew can overwinter in the grunge and show up next year .
Another moisture - related lilac disease , bacterial blight presents withbrown - black farewell , distort shoots , and ailing bloom . You might see yellow anchor ring on your leaves or blackening blossom buds if you catch it early enough .
triggered by bacteria that is always present on lilac leaves but flourishes when they ’re wet , blight make lilacs more prostrate to damage from the low temperature . Again , right wateringand strong-growing pruning is cardinal to management .
This is the most common lilac aggressor and is typically found on onetime branches first . Adult rock drill are wasp - similar moth withclear wing and ruby head , while larvae are white - pinkish caterpillars with red - chocolate-brown headway .
calculate for cracked bark , broken branches , and/or stem holes that may exudate sap or a sawdust - like excreta to indicate lilac borer infestation .
If borers are overtake ahead of time , they can be effectively pull off by clip off limbs that are being attacked , so deliberate monitoring is central to addressing this pest . Just experience that recover lilacs mayneed extra wateringand attention for a while .
Most of this pest ’s harm is done by its larvae , which are small , white , and less than ¼ column inch long . white-livered , squiggly lines ( or mines ) on your lilac ’s leave of absence will show you where they have been boring through the tissue .
afterward in the season , a rolled leaf may indicate that caterpillars are pupating . If leafminers or borers are suspect , prune off affected leave immediatelyand keep your center skin for others .
These small , beat insects are about1/16th inch longand bet like flyspeck gray or browned warts . They typically suck up sap from a lilac ’s root , which may weaken them and make them prone to breakage . Not commonly a major scourge if caught betimes , scales can be efficaciously managed with spot pruning and horticultural crude oil .
Protect Your Lilacs in Winter
While they do require some protection from utmost conditions , lilac are cold atmospheric condition flora that ask a period of rightful dormancy if they are to blossom predictably . For this intellect , they should never be convey indoors for the winter .
Instead , try toshield your potted lilac from high windsby go it near your home plate ’s understructure , or clustering it with a group of other large throne . When that ’s not possible , consider pile up some evergreen branch or mulch around the radical of your pot . This will protect the root systems from prejudicial freeze / thaw cycles/second .
Final Thoughts
Although lilacs are not often the first plant life that come to mind when planning a container garden , they can do just ok on patios , decks , and rooftop garden if you ’re committed to the job . The most of import thing to think of is that they have enceinte root scheme , ask mass of sunshine , and require regular lachrymation .
If you choose a small diversity , use a large pot , and give them plenty of sexual love , your container grown lilacs will give your hardscape a pastel bouquet of seraphic - smell joy year after year .
