Expert Tips on Pruning Lilacs

Gary L. Heilig, Horticulture Educator (retired) for Michigan State University
Extension explains how to properly prune a lilac bush.
Topics includes: tools, pruning options, time to prune, etc.
Be sure to check out all of my other pruning videos on the channel.
Tools:
K KLEZHI Professional Cordless Electric Pruning Shears amzn.to/3OShQRY
Black & Decker Electric Chain Saw Lopper amzn.to/3SdkKnk
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which helps with the costs associated with this channel.

[@dardar1434]

Great job. Got right to it: not a lot of needless chatter. I appreciate that so much.

[@existentialpoet8216]

Thank you. Wish we could also learn about getting rid of lilac suckers that continue to produce.

[@easyplease5068]

Showing us where you make your cuts would have been necessary for me to learn from this video.

[@karengray6641]

Clear and concise video. Thank!

[@kimberlygreen5534]

Your videos are excellent! Short and to the point 👍🏼 Thank you!

[@rockstarsbl]

Super helpful, Gary! Many blessings to you. ❤

[@susanrieske4258]

So happy to hear you are recovering! I've known for years that my 100' lilac hedge needs a renovation prune, but it's just too overwhelming. It's a fight to get anything out of the tangled growth. Those tools are cool. Definitely going to check into them.

[@Jeepsteve1982]

This is good stuff. Thank you.

[@nathanlinehan3458]

Great Michigan content! Thank you!

[@michellemuffy2354]

Thanks, Garry! I needed that info!

[@notsoserious0944]

Thanks! That is a big help because I never knew they needed help but noticed mine are becoming more bedraggled every year.

[@ChuckD59]

Thank you. Very helpful.
I'd also like to know if fertilization matters, and with what if so.

[@creekfishers2739]

Thanks, Gary.

[@4speed3pedals]

Thanks Gary. I have one that is at least 2 times this size and the flower production is mostly out of reach and the flowers are less and less each year. It has some tree sized trunks that must go due to age and the way they have grown.

[@sammysworld5485]

I have a old lilac tree that had been neglected for years. I’ve finally started on this selective pruning goal since last year. It’s coming along but a few more old branches to go. New shoots has sprung which I wanted it to do. Waiting to see how it fills in.

[@susanmejeur3245]

Glad you are back! What about Korean lilacs?

[@smacmcnaron]

Great job with this video, I will subscribe and watch more. Just wanted to let you know your amazon links don't work. I thought the first one just needed a space between the title and the URL but even when I paste it into a browser it still just takes me to google search.

[@clay3129]

Another great video, did you have any luck with the apricot this year?

[@Lou-im4by]

I have 2 yr olds,in Texas! No blossoms! How do I prune them for bloom next year???😊

[@johnthroop2092]

Thank you Gary for your fine video I am also from Michigan We have a very large 12-ft plus lilac I did see flowers on it this year but we do not want a lilac this huge! I know you said cut it back late winter if you're going to take it all down I was just going to kill it but cuz I figured it was too old but my question is since it's almost the middle of July what would happen if I cut it way back to just above ground level now? I'm not concerned about not having flowers next year know that I understand that they can live to be really old and flower I just don't want to kill it I just want to have it short again

[@robertyoung1777]

Hi,
I’m in Vermont. In my experience it’s difficult to kill off a lilac.
I do essentially what Gary describes here while trying to keep the bush in a shape that fits well with its surroundings.

[@matheya]

So.. I pruned my lilac to 3 feet hight last year and it did not leaf out much. Now it has a few leaves and the blooms are so small - like Muscari !! What do I do with it ? :/