How to Kill Lilac Bushes
Lilacs are beautiful ornamental bushes and, when healthy, add an air of whimsy and sophistication to a garden. However, a lilac bush can become a problem for any number of reasons. It may repeatedly fall prey to insect infestation, get in the way of other plants, or attract too many bees. Whatever your reason for wanting to kill your lilac bushes, know that simply cutting a lilac bush down will only make it grow back stronger.
Spray the lilac bushes liberally with a shrub and brush killer herbicide like Brush Buster. This is the least labor-intensive method of killing lilac bushes. However, as the lilac bushes die you'll be left with unsightly foliage.
- Lilacs are beautiful ornamental bushes and, when healthy, add an air of whimsy and sophistication to a garden.
Cut the lilac bushes down to the ground using an ax or saw. Whether or not you decide to spray your lilac bushes with herbicide, this is an important step in getting all of that foliage out of the way.
Kill the roots. There are several ways to do this. One is to liberally spray the stump with the herbicide. It will move throughout the lilac's root system and kill the roots. The second is to dig up the roots. Water the ground around the lilac bush liberally to loosen up the soil. Then use a shovel to dig around the circumference of the root ball and pry the root ball out. Once the lilac bush is removed, fill the resulting hole with topsoil.
- Cut the lilac bushes down to the ground using an ax or saw.
- Whether or not you decide to spray your lilac bushes with herbicide, this is an important step in getting all of that foliage out of the way.
Discard the plant. If the lilac bush was healthy when you removed it, and you did not spray it with herbicide, chop it into small pieces and use the plant as compost or mulch. If the plant is infected or covered in herbicide, throw it away.
Lilac Bushes That Don't Bloom
Lilacs are one of many flowering shrubs which thrive best in full sunlight. Lilac bushes are fairly easy to grow and are relatively undemanding when it comes to soil quality. This being the case, it is not necessary to fertilize the soil around your lilacs in order for them to bloom. Lilacs prefer well-drained soil. Like many plants, lilacs are prone to developing root rot if the soil is kept too moist and the plant may also show general signs of poor health. If you prune your lilacs after the new buds have set, you may see few or no blooms the following year.
- If the lilac bush was healthy when you removed it, and you did not spray it with herbicide, chop it into small pieces and use the plant as compost or mulch.
Lilac Bushes That Don't Bloom
Lilacs are one of many flowering shrubs which thrive best in full sunlight. Lilac bushes are fairly easy to grow and are relatively undemanding when it comes to soil quality. This being the case, it is not necessary to fertilize the soil around your lilacs in order for them to bloom. Lilacs prefer well-drained soil. Like many plants, lilacs are prone to developing root rot if the soil is kept too moist and the plant may also show general signs of poor health. If you prune your lilacs after the new buds have set, you may see few or no blooms the following year.
- If the lilac bush was healthy when you removed it, and you did not spray it with herbicide, chop it into small pieces and use the plant as compost or mulch.
Related Articles
References
- North Dakota State University: Lilacs
- United States Department of Agriculture: Syringa vulgaris L.
- Colorado State University Cooperative Extension: Renewing Lilacs
- University of Maine: Why Lilacs Don't Bloom
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Lilacs-Selection and Pruning
- United States Department of Agriculture: Syringa vulgaris L.
- Colorado State University Cooperative Extension: Renewing Lilacs
- University of Maine: Why Lilacs Don't Bloom
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Lilacs-Selection and Pruning
Writer Bio
Based in Houston, Texas, Meg Butler is a professional farmer, house flipper and landscaper. When not busy learning about homes and appliances she's sharing that knowledge. Butler began blogging, editing and writing in 2000. Her work has appered in the "Houston Press" and several other publications. She has an A.A. in journalism and a B.A. in history from New York University.
