Lilac Bush

The lilac bush is known for its intense fragrance and attractive blooms. It is one of the most pleasurable shrub that you can plant in your garden. The lilac flowers bloom from mid spring to mid summer. They are grown as borders in gardens and their leaves add to the grand look even after the blooms have been spent.

How to Grow It?
It is very easy to plant seedlings of these flowers. You can get bare root stocks or seedlings planted in pots from nurseries. When you get home one of these plants, you need to place the bare roots in a bucket of water as you dig a hole that is twice the size of root bulb. You should choose a site that is sunny and receives at least 6 hours of sunshine every day. The depth of the hole should be about 1 to 2 inches deeper.

See that the soil is well aerated and these plants can grow in any kind of soil. So you can add a small amount of sand, peat moss or compost to help in soil aeration. This will also help in retaining moisture and add nutrients to the soil. Place the bush into the center of the hole and fill it with the gravel-compost- soil and tamp down. Then pour water over the filled hole gently and spread mulch over the root base forming a layer 3 to 4 inches deep. Water the plant regularly and make sure the soil is moist in dry season. By next spring, the plants will be well established with proper care.

Care
These bushes are one of the hardiest bushes that you will find while gardening. These bushes can survive a temperature of -50º F and can endure on their own without any care. You can begin with minimal care to keep your shrubs healthy for many years.

You need to use pruning shears for removing damaged and diseased branches. You should prune the bushes in late fall or winter, during the dormancy period. After the last flowers fade away, you can prune to shape the bushes. Mulch should be replaced annually, as it helps in maintaining moisture, controlling weeds and giving consistent temperature to the root system. You need to water the plant during periods of drought. Fertilizers should be added only if the bush is not growing vigorously. Add the fertilizer once every three or four years. Also, remove the fallen leaves and branches from the bush base to avoid decay.

Varieties
The most beautiful and attractive bush is probably the Chinese lilac. It is a large, round headed shrub that works as a border plant or screen plant. The Chinese bush produces flowers in early May. The flowers are purple in color and bloom in bunches that are 4 to 5 inches long. The White Persian is another popular bush that has dark green foliage with beautiful creamy white flowers. This is a small compact bush that is perfect for a small garden. The 'James Macfarlane' bush is one of the most cold hardy of all types. The blooms are seen in early June and are true pink in color. They have elegant bushes that are upright and good to be grown as a screen plant or border plant.

These bushes are extremely easy to care for and need no extra attention. You will love the fragrant, colorful blooms in your flower garden.