Lilacs not blooming?

[daughtersrus]

I'm hoping that someone here may know why most of my lilac bushes are not blooming this year. I have two varieties and the smaller (dwarf variety) look like they're going to bloom any day now but the larger ones (I have no idea which kind they are. I got them several years ago from my in-laws) have only a few flowers on one of the white bushes.

In driving around the neighborhood, it looks like others are having the same problem. Last spring we had a warm spell and then it got cold again. My forsythia bushes bloomed twice last year and not at all this year. The lilacs however only bloomed once last year and not at all this year.

Any ideas?

We're in the suburbs of Chicago if that makes a difference.

Thanks!

 

[Dismom+two]

Have you trimmed the bushes? I have done that in the past and then got very few flowers. Just a thought.

 

[Stitchfans]

Also in the suburbs of Chicago. Mine had tons of beautiful blossoms but due to the latest cold snap I lost them all. But yes to get blossoms you have to trim it back each year. Lilacs are my favorite flowers I sure wish they lasted longer. They die to fast.

 

[kinntj]

I trim mine and they are fine. I have to trim them otherwise it overgrows quickly. They are on the west side of the house and I love that because when the wind blows and you're on the front porch, you can smell them.

I don't like that they don't last that long either. I wish they would last all summer.

 

[C.Ann]

Up here at the lake they are only just barely starting to bloom.. Normally they would have been in bloom Mother's Day weekend.. (Upstate NY)..

Maybe they're just going to be late - due to the weather..

I love lilacs!!

 

[freckles and boo]

The dwarf varieties tend to bloom later so you will probably see them in the next couple of weeks but the cold may have damaged the others. If you prune them (and you really don't have to except to keep them from taking over the universe) you should do it right after the flowers drop. Otherwise you risk cutting off the next year's buds.

 

[Tink888]

We are in Pittsburgh and mine haven't bloomed either. We didn't trim so maybe that is the problem. Does anyone know whether or not they'd bloom if we trimmed now......or are we too late? (I'm not much of a gardener)

 

[daughtersrus]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, I trim them at least once a year because they grow so fast and I want to keep them below the fence. Maybe I'm trimming them at the wrong time? This is the first year that I can see many of the dead blooms from last year. Besides not blooming, the bushes look great. Very full and growing quite a bit already. I've just notices that several of the bushes in my subdivision that are normally very full of flowers also have very little this year.

My dwarf bushes should be blooming soon. I can see the buds so it's just the larger ones that I'm having a problem with.

 

[dcmcrb]

We are in NW Indiana and have the same situation. The forsythia went straight to green and the white lilac has very few blooms. From what we remember there was a cold snap last spring and that has caused these plants to not bloom. Hoping for better next year!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, I trim them at least once a year because they grow so fast and I want to keep them below the fence. Maybe I'm trimming them at the wrong time? This is the first year that I can see many of the dead blooms from last year. Besides not blooming, the bushes look great. Very full and growing quite a bit already. I've just notices that several of the bushes in my subdivision that are normally very full of flowers also have very little this year.

My dwarf bushes should be blooming soon. I can see the buds so it's just the larger ones that I'm having a problem with.

Rule of thumb is "Prune after bloom". If you cut them in fall you cut off all the flowers.

In addition you are suppose to deadhead the blooms, even if you are not a pruner. You did not deadhead so you are going to see a bloom reduction.

As they get older you need to follow a rejuvenation pruning technique if you want to refresh an old lilac.

http://garden-pruning-irrigating.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_do_you_prune_lilacs

 

[cheerful chickadee]

ours are in full bloom right now, they're huge this year! I cut a bunch last night and have them on my table making the whole house smell pretty. We're in upstate/western NY. I don't know much about the care of them honestly, I do love them though, they're so pretty.

 

[Disney Doll]

We have lilacs which I believe are called Chinese Lilacs that bloom later than a regular lilac.

Around here, the regular lilacs have bloomed and "spent" but mine haven't bloomed yet. They also bloom white instead of lilac colored flowers.

 

[akhenaten]

My lilacs bloomed already...and it was during a miserable rainy , cold week so i did not really get to appreciate them this year

 

[SpecialK]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, I trim them at least once a year because they grow so fast and I want to keep them below the fence. Maybe I'm trimming them at the wrong time? This is the first year that I can see many of the dead blooms from last year. Besides not blooming, the bushes look great. Very full and growing quite a bit already. I've just notices that several of the bushes in my subdivision that are normally very full of flowers also have very little this year.

My dwarf bushes should be blooming soon. I can see the buds so it's just the larger ones that I'm having a problem with.

If you trim them too late in the summer you won't get blooms the following year. Landscaper told me to trim them before the 4th of July. I follow that advice and get blooms every year. Funny thing is, I hate the smell of lilacs!

Edited to add: I'm in the south suburbs of Chicago.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

My lilacs bloomed already...and it was during a miserable rainy , cold week so i did not really get to appreciate them this year

Me too!!! They are right outside my kitchen window & love the scent drifting in during the Spring, this year we had maybe a day with the windows opened. When it finally stopped raining I went to cut a few & I was a little to late~

My cousin has "French lilacs" & they are more bushlike & bloom the start of June & have a very deep purple color. I'm going to look into planting one in our garden.

 

[HelenePA]

I thought I had the only defective lilac bush! Everyone in my neighborhood's bushes are bloomed! Mine is just starting to get buds. Last year was the first year I got flowers. I planted it 2 years before that, its already 7 feet tall. I think its just a reg purple lilac bush? The hang tag is still on it I'll look tomorrow. I LOOOOVEEE the smell taking a walk at this time of year.. lilacs are everywhere!

 

[Sleepy]

Ours did not bloom last year. Honestly, we did not even know we had lilacs in the back yard. It was not a lot of blossoms, but they were beautiful. There is one along a wall 3 houses down. Man, it was like a waterfall of beautiful!

 

[Cindy F]

I'm jealous! We can't grow lilacs down here, the azaleas are pretty but lilacs are beautiful AND smell wonderful.

Oh well, at least the cannas are blooming, they can be a tad "gaudy" but they look nice by the pool.

Anyone know of any lilacs that will grow in zone 8B?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I'm jealous! We can't grow lilacs down here, the azaleas are pretty but lilacs are beautiful AND smell wonderful.

Oh well, at least the cannas are blooming, they can be a tad "gaudy" but they look nice by the pool.

Anyone know of any lilacs that will grow in zone 8B?

Not lilacs, but I will trade you for the Crape Myrtles.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If you trim them too late in the summer you won't get blooms the following year. Landscaper told me to trim them before the 4th of July. I follow that advice and get blooms every year. Funny thing is, I hate the smell of lilacs!

Edited to add: I'm in the south suburbs of Chicago.

I wasn't going to say that, but that is the general rule. However, I would not be cutting back my lilacs that late here in MO or below. You are pushing it.

That is also the date that you can stop pinching mums back, if you want your mums to bloom in fall.