Lilac is an ornamental shrub that requires certain conditions to bloom. Modern imported varieties are especially capricious in terms of planting location. A lilac planted in the right place will grow quickly, and its flowering will delight you with its splendor and richness of color.
Choosing a place without stagnant moisture
Lilac roots are sensitive to excess moisture. If you plant a shrub in a lowland, it will be flooded during rains and melting snow, which is unacceptable. The same applies to the groundwater level. They should lie no closer than 1.5 m to the surface of the soil on the site.
Planting on a slope where water flows away by gravity will help rid the bush of excess moisture in the root zone. The option of creating a bulk hill is also suitable. Even if lilacs are planted on a flat area, it is advisable to take care of creating a drainage system. The bottom of the pit is first filled with small crushed stone or brick chips. Some solve the problem by digging small drainage ditches that carry excess water to a distant location.
Suitable lighting
For the full development and flowering of lilacs, a sufficient level of illumination is necessary. A suitable landing site from this point of view would be an area illuminated by the sun in the first half of the day. If the seedling is planted in full shade, it will grow very slowly. The flowering of such lilacs will be sparse; especially light-loving varieties may not bloom at all.
At the same time, the bush should not be allowed to be exposed to the scorching sun all day long. The plant will react to this by shredding the flowers and incompletely forming clusters. The foliage will also become sparse. The decorative effect of lilacs will noticeably decrease. It is permissible to locate the shrub in a partially shaded place, for example, where it will grow in a lacy shadow falling from a tall tree.
Draft protection
Few plants tolerate constant drafts and gusts of strong wind well. This directly applies to lilacs. Windswept areas are not suitable for it. In a temperate climate zone, under such conditions in winter, the flower buds of the bush freeze over, which leads to a decrease in the quality of flowering or its absence. The situation is further aggravated by the sharp drop in winter temperatures.
It is best to plant a seedling near the wall of a building or along a fence. If this is not possible, bushes are planted in groups. In this case, they will protect themselves from drafts. In addition, group planting always looks more impressive. The distance between plants in a group should be at least 1.5 m.
It is better to start planting lilacs from mid-August to the end of September. You can plant shrubs in the spring, but only until the buds awaken. Lilacs planted according to all the rules will delight the owners of the site for many years with magnificent blooms, filling the air with a recognizable spring aroma.
