we probably have lost four of our

pumba

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Double White french Lilac........we were not doing to good last summer ........alot of winter kill from that year before .cause we had not much snow. We probably should of covered the ground under them........sad to see those big double whites go.....we still have the double purple ones........any one else know from the looks of the trees
 
I have no idea how to tell if a lilac is dead, Pumba. I just wanted to say that I absolutely love white lilacs and have had little success in growing them.

Hope yours survive so that you enjoy another beautiful spring!
 
I have both a purple and a white lilac bush. I am sad to say that they are most neglected. In spite of it they still bloom quite well every spring. I love to bring the blooms indoors. I usually put a big bouquet of them on the front entry table. What a wonderful greeting. Pumba, I'm hoping yours will survived the winter.
 
Pumba, perhaps what your lilacs need is a rejuvenating pruning, or have you been pruning them? I would start with that (in the early spring), and see what happens. :) They're pretty tough, and I sure hope you don't lose them!

I'm including a couple of Q's & A's from a great Lilac site. Maybe something there fits with the problems you're having. :)

~Q: I have a lilac that is four years old. It only has a few flowers even though it sits in full sun. This spring I found a dead branch. If I have borers, how will I know and what can I do about it? (e-mail reference)

A: If the trees do have borers, you'll see a tunnel entrance at the base of the tree or maybe at the base of the branch that died. There will be sawdust at the tunnel entrance. Tunnel entrances are about a quarter inch in diameter. Permethrin and lindane are two insecticides that are labeled for ash/lilac borers here in North Dakota, but the labels might be different in your state. Check with your local nursery or with your Extension agent to find out for sure. Good luck! (JZ)~

~Q: I planted a lilac bush last summer that grew and bloomed nicely. This summer it bloomed but then the leaves turned brown and it appears to have died. That part of the yard has been really wet this year. Could that be the problem? Is there any chance of saving it? Should I leave it and hope that it comes back next year? Should I cut it back? (Fargo, N.D.)

A: Check the cambium to see if it is still green by scraping your thumbnail along one of the stems. If it is, there's a good chance that it will come back next year. If not, then it is likely a goner. Lilacs are tough, but they don't tolerate standing water very well.~

~Q: I've been in this house less than two years and have a lot of lilacs. I plan to increase my collection by purchasing different varieties as well as planting more of the
suckers (which seem to do quite well) to surround the property for a lilac-enclosed paradise. I'd like to know exactly where one should cut the bush to prune for
maximum bloom while retaining as much height as possible and making the bushes plump out next spring. (e-mail)

A: Take some long-handled loppers and reach into the base of the lilacs as low as possible and cut back about one-third of all the oldest canes. This
would leave about two-thirds left for the bloom show and cause the plant to "plump out" as you put it (nice term, I like it!) next season. Do that each
spring and you will have perpetually beautifully lilacs to enjoy. ~

~Q: Can you tell me what kind of fungus is growing on the enclosed sample of white lilac bush? I would also like to plant a new lilac there and I am wondering if it will have the same problems? (Cando, N.D.)

A: The new lilac will likely grow in the same location. Just make sure as much of the present shrub as possible is removed.

You have two maladies with the present lilac. One is the shelf-like structure on the wounded branch. What is happening is internal rot and what you are seeing are the results of this process. It is often found on old trees that have fallen or will soon fall, from internal decay.

The other disease is powdery mildew. This usually arrives on lilac leaves in late July or August. To keep under control, spray with sulfur, Bordeaux mixture or Benlate prior to the disease showing up.~

Pumba, here's the link to the site. ~Questions on Lilacs~ There's a lot to read, but hopefully you'll find something that describes what's happening to your lilacs, and a way to deal with it.

Chessie, you'll find this site useful too! :)
 

we had 16 lilac trees on our back fence area.....and four in the front of the house.....it is a shame that bringing them into the house makes me SICK.....they make me have a headache and sneeze forever.....haha....but to have them in the yard and to sniff them occasionally is worth it...some of these lilacs are 15 years old and were very hearty
 
pumba said:
we had 16 lilac trees on our back fence area.....and four in the front of the house.....it is a shame that bringing them into the house makes me SICK.....they make me have a headache and sneeze forever.....haha....but to have them in the yard and to sniff them occasionally is worth it...some of these lilacs are 15 years old and were very hearty
I have the same problem, Pumba! love the smell, but they MUST stay outdoors. They are prettiest there anyway.
 
oh no pumba! I have a little white lilac in my front that just started blooming last year and it's so beautiful.
They might still be ok if you prune them and baby them in the spring. lilacs are very hardy.
 
I just planted a lavendar lilac last year. It had one beautiful bloom on it. I'm anxiously waiting to see what it will do this year. It hasn't broken dormancy yet, which is surprising with the mild winter we've had.
 
put the lime on them at the end of the season .....well late fall and then when we have poor mans manure (april snow) we do it at that point......always have had good luck with our lilacs......brian had to spray paint on the bark so we would know which was white and which were purple and who were the double whites and double purples......as always they are gorgeous but there is something about the old fashin purples that will always be my favorite
 
I'm sorry that bringing lilacs in the house, makes you feel badly, Pumba. I think Gina (or her DS?), has the same problem. :(

It's wonderful though, that you have so many of them in your yarden. I'd love that!! :) When they're blooming, I'd pull up a lounger, get comfy, close my eyes, and....inhale....ahhhhh.. :love: :)
 
some of the doubles are so heavy that they bend over ........I will try to get my hubby to take photos of them this year.....although I have old photos of some of them too....I will see what happens this year....we prune them and lime them and baby them and give people shoots from the bottom ..cause they always grow out and around ........one year we did 16 rose (ever blooming ones) all on the other side of the back yard......the neighbors threw their snow and SALT on that side of the fence and it killed them dead as a doornail.....we were sad but no more...
 
We love pics of other people's yardens, Pumba. :) I look forward to seeing yours!! :sunny:
 












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