Lilacs are exceptionally easy to transplant. I have transplanted
many lilac bushes from the original bushes that my grandmother
planted on our Wisconsin dairy farm 70 years ago. Early spring
until late spring, from when the lilacs develop buds until they
actually have small leaves, is the best time to transplant. If
you have lilacs growing in your yard -- or if you have a friend
who has lilacs -- and you would like to start some new lilac
bushes, here's how:
1. Decide where you want to transplant the lilac bush or bushes.
2. Dig a hole that's about one foot deep by one foot across for
each bush you want to transplant.
3. Dig up a lilac shoot from somewhere around the main bush.
Lilacs spread by runners. Use a shovel to dig up the shoot
because you are going to have to cut off the runner, and a
trowel will not be tough enough to do the job. Choose a shoot
that is approximately 8 to 14 inches high. Smaller shoots that
are only a few inches high will take a very long time to mature
to the point where they will have flowers. Larger shoots seem to
take a longer time to recover from being transplanted before
they start to grow well. Do not worry about how much root you
are getting with the shoot. You will not be able to take all of
the root since the roots are all connected.
4. Put the shoot in a bucket of water if you are not going to
transplant it immediately so that it will not dry out. If you
are going to transplant it immediately, carry it to the hole you
have dug and set it in the hole.
5. Center the shoot in the hole and fill in with dirt. Leave a
three or four inch depression around the shoot so you will have
a reservoir for water.
6. Water your new lilac bush with a couple of gallons of water.
Continue watering the bush several times a week for the rest of
the season to ensure that it has a good start. From what I have
observed, lilacs seem to be quite drought resistant, although
like any plant, tree or bush, they will grow more if they have
plenty of water. In subsequent years, water your new lilac bush
from time to time, especially if rain is in short supply.
Note: I have noticed that it takes 4 or 5 years for the new
bushes to grow enough to start producing flowers, although
bushes that I transplanted from small shoots only a few inches
high are taking longer than that.
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About Author :
LeAnn R. Ralph is the author of the books "Christmas in
Dairyland (True Stories from a Wisconsin Farm" (trade paperback
2003); "Give Me a Home Where the Dairy Cows Roam" (trade
paperback 2004); "Preserve Your Family History" (e-book 2004).
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