Topic: Lilac

[GrowingChillis]

hi all

I have a large lilac bush in my garden, it is a little lanky,
but the main probl;em is that it has a mould or moss growing on about 50% of the branches, and some of the middle branches are rotten and just snap off in your hands.
I am worried that because it is so lanky if i chaop it to the ground it will just be bare sticks.
Also is this mould stuff a fungal infection? if so is it worth saving or shall i just dig it out.

thanks all

peter

[gardenqueen]

We had a lilac tree which had exactly the same symptoms as yours. On inspecting the tree closely we found to our dismay that the base of the tree looked as though it was rotting away! Indeed it was and had, as we only had to push it and the tree just came straight out of the ground! What the cause was I don't know, but have a dig round the base in case yours has a problem there!

[triffid]

Honey fungus??

[Palustris]

Honey fungus does not announce itself within the plant in that way. The signs of that are mushrooms and roots like black shoe laces in the soil. However Lilacs are very prone to honey fungus and the moss/lichen growth on dead branches could indicate something being drastically wrong.
Cut out ALL the dead and dying branches right to the ground for a start. As long as the lilac is not a grafted form then it should, if healthy shoot from below ground. Cut the healthy branches back to a bud about two thirds down (or one third above the ground!). You will lose flowers for a while with such heavy pruning. If there is any sign of staining inside any of the cut branches then you may well have to dig out the whole thing. If you do find such stains (usually purple or brown) post a picture of it on here for more info.

[triffid]

*Bows down to Eric's wisdom*

... was just working from childhood memory of dad losing a lilac to honey fungus and knew they were prone to suffering this way.

[GrowingChillis]

WOW

very helpful,

it does have moss/lichen growth on alot of the branches, I am not sure if all
of them are affected but i have a feeling they might be all have it mildly.

Since we have rearranged the garden it isnt in the best place anyway, but
seems a shame to just destroy a big long established bush. but maybe if I cut it
right down to the ground and any healthy stuff just prune back, see if i can make
it smaller and more suitable for its current site.

If it is nearly all rotten is it possible to take cuttings and try and grow a new lilac somewhere else? or maybe just cut a healthy looking chunk out with the roots aswel and then just plant that?

thanks

[Robert_Brenchley]

When I cut a big lilac back I found lots of rooted bits, which probably means it layers easily. They grew away perfectly well when planrted separately.

[GrowingChillis]

would it be possible to plant a lilac near a nature orientated pond?
as i am currently building a natural pond.

[Palustris]

Cuttings are not that easy without specialist equipment and are in any case taken in spring and your plant needs working on now. Layering is easiest and you may find as Robert suggests, already layered branches. OR, you could try doing root cuttings. Google for images of how best to do this.
Lilacs will grow almost anywhere as long as it is not too wet or too dry. Personally I think they are very dull things and there are far better things to have. Ours all have Clematis growing through them to give summer and autumn interest.