Content
- How to bring lilacs healthy over the winter
- Hibernate lilacs properly - That's how it works
- Beware of late frosts: protective fleece often makes sense
- Radikalschnitt perform in winter
- Tips
Older lilacs are hardy
How to bring lilacs healthy over the winter
Although lilac - botanically Syringa vulgaris - can be found in many gardens and in some cases is very old, it is nevertheless not a native plant. In fact, the popular flowering shrub was introduced to our latitudes from Southeastern Europe as early as the 16th century and was quickly able to establish itself here because of its robustness. In fact, lilac is sufficiently hardy and does not need special protection unless it's in a pot.
Hibernate lilacs properly - That's how it works
If it is a lilac planted in the garden, then this is usually sufficiently hardy and requires winter protection only in two cases:
Young lilac bushes first have to build up their winter hardiness and can still be somewhat sensitive in the first two to three years. However, they can protect you with a thick mulch layer on the root disc, but you should not use a bark mulch if possible. This material keeps the water in the soil, which in turn does not please the lilac. Spruce or fir-spruce, spread on the ground, is very suitable. For lilacs cultivated in containers, wrap the planters with a warming fleece and place the pot on an insulating base (made of wood or styrofoam, for example).
Beware of late frosts: protective fleece often makes sense
In some regions of Germany nocturnal late frosts can occur even in May. Above all, these threaten the flowering and budding of the lilac, as both may freeze over due to the sudden cold in combination with otherwise warm weather. Therefore, you should protect the aboveground parts of the lilac with fleece or the like in threatening frost, if the shrub is not too big.
Radikalschnitt perform in winter
A radical pruning is only necessary for the lilac, if an old shrub is already strongly verkahlt and should be rejuvenated in this way. Carry out this cut in the late winter, during the vegetation break, if possible, and choose a frost-free and dry day for it.
Tips
New noble lilacs are often more robust in terms of frost sensitivity than the old lilacs. They are specially bred for winter hardiness and resistance to disease.