I have two large (8' dia, 5' tall) lilac bushes that have flowered since
the year we put them in, they are larger than the area supports and
we've never pruned them.

I don't know if I can uproot them, split the root ball and then make two
(or more) viable plants out of them.

Any one do this or know if it will work without killing them?

Thanks.

--

Leythos
- Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.
- Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented worker" is like calling a
drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist"
(remove 999 for proper email address)

Leythos expounded:

I have two large (8' dia, 5' tall) lilac bushes that have flowered since
the year we put them in, they are larger than the area supports and
we've never pruned them.

I don't know if I can uproot them, split the root ball and then make two
(or more) viable plants out of them.

Any one do this or know if it will work without killing them?

Thanks.

Well, you can take suckers from the base and put them where you want,
they'll grow fairly quickly. Why not prune the main plant to fit the
space? Lilacs tolerate pruning very well.
--
Ann, gardening in Zone 6a
South of Boston, Massachusetts
e-mail address is not checked
******************************

Ann wrote:
Leythos expounded:

I have two large (8' dia, 5' tall) lilac bushes that have flowered since
the year we put them in, they are larger than the area supports and
we've never pruned them.

I don't know if I can uproot them, split the root ball and then make two
(or more) viable plants out of them.

Any one do this or know if it will work without killing them?

Thanks.

Well, you can take suckers from the base and put them where you want,
they'll grow fairly quickly. Why not prune the main plant to fit the
space? Lilacs tolerate pruning very well.

That is true. The bush can also be split into sections with a spade
while in the ground (perhaps into quarters), then the parent plant
will be minimally disturbed. Lilac should be pruned of old wood every
year for a healthier plant and better flowering. If lilac is not
flowering well it can benefit from root pruning.

http://www.arcamax.com/gardening/s-156685-111528

I wouldn't do that. If you want to reduce the size of the tree then prune it. If you want to get another lilac tree then semi-ripe cuttings are the answer, they are not difficult. Try this page for more info on lilac trees:
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/plantf...-syringa_2.asp
Good luck.

In article . com,
says...
Ann wrote:
Leythos expounded:

I have two large (8' dia, 5' tall) lilac bushes that have flowered since
the year we put them in, they are larger than the area supports and
we've never pruned them.

I don't know if I can uproot them, split the root ball and then make two
(or more) viable plants out of them.

Any one do this or know if it will work without killing them?

Thanks.

Well, you can take suckers from the base and put them where you want,
they'll grow fairly quickly. Why not prune the main plant to fit the
space? Lilacs tolerate pruning very well.

That is true. The bush can also be split into sections with a spade
while in the ground (perhaps into quarters), then the parent plant
will be minimally disturbed. Lilac should be pruned of old wood every
year for a healthier plant and better flowering. If lilac is not
flowering well it can benefit from root pruning.

http://www.arcamax.com/gardening/s-156685-111528

The plants, now 4 years old, have flowered since the year they were
planted. I didn't prune them because I ran out of time and the
directions say to prune late in the year.

I have other plants that spread, so they can be split, and from above
ground it appeared that the Lilac bush could have the same type of root
structure. Splitting it seemed like a good idea, pruning at the same
time, to get more plants, not have to trim it back to harm, and get what
I want.

--

Leythos
- Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.
- Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented worker" is like calling a
drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist"
(remove 999 for proper email address)

Leythos expounded:


The plants, now 4 years old, have flowered since the year they were
planted. I didn't prune them because I ran out of time and the
directions say to prune late in the year.

No, no, no, don't prune late in the year, you'll cut off next year's
flowers. Prune right after blooming, like now.
--
Ann, gardening in Zone 6a
South of Boston, Massachusetts
e-mail address is not checked
******************************

In article ,
says...
Leythos expounded:


The plants, now 4 years old, have flowered since the year they were
planted. I didn't prune them because I ran out of time and the
directions say to prune late in the year.

No, no, no, don't prune late in the year, you'll cut off next year's
flowers. Prune right after blooming, like now.

Thanks - I thought I read in a couple places that I was to prune late in
the year?

So, would now be a good time to split the bush in two parts at the
roots?

--

Leythos
- Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.
- Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented worker" is like calling a
drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist"
(remove 999 for proper email address)

Leythos expounded:

So, would now be a good time to split the bush in two parts at the
roots?

Provided you're willing to be dilligent about watering, yes.
--
Ann, gardening in Zone 6a
South of Boston, Massachusetts
e-mail address is not checked
******************************