Pruning Lilacs [30-60-90 Updates]

Hello my sweet friends! Spring is crazy here at the hobby farm. I love this video about Pruning Lilacs, especially the 30-60-90 day views post prune. I know pruning can be really scary! If you're a beginner gardener, pruning can seem counter productive. We're supposed to let everything grow, right? Well, yes, but a little pruning management can keep your plants healthy for the long haul.
Now, most experts would agree that for pruning any tree, you're best bet is to not prune back more than 30% per year. But most lilacs aren't actually trees, they are bushes. Now, there is a lilac tree variety with just one trunk that's become a bit more popular with landscapers, but that's not what most folks have.
Lilac bushes can grow very quickly and spread easily, but not all that growth is healthy, especially if what you really love is all those fragrant blooms. They are also extremely hardy, which means if you have overgrown bushes like I have, you can easily prune back up to 50-60% without causing much damage to the root structure.
In this video, you'll watch me give one of my lilacs a heavy prune, which I eventually repeat off camera to the other two as well. Then I show you what type of growth you can expect in the 30-60-90 days post prune - just to show you how much they can rebound!
For supplies I use my electric chainsaw and my loppers along with a good dose of muscle. And when to prune? like most things in your garden, your best pruning times will either be late fall or spring before leaf and flower buds open.