BC Living
You’ve Gotta Try This in February 2025
Recipe: How to Make Pie Crust from Scratch
Valentine’s Day Drink Recipe: Hy’s Love Is Love Cocktail
Nature’s Pharmacy: 8 Herbal Boutiques in BC
How Barre Enhances Your Flexibility
Top Tips for Workout Recovery
Inviting the Steller’s Jay to Your Garden
6 Budget-friendly Holiday Decor Pieces
Dream Home: $8 Million for a Modern Surprise
Local Getaway: Hideaway at a Mystical Earth House in Kootenay
9 BC Wellness Hotels to Relax and Recharge in This Year
Local Getaway: Enjoy Waterfront Views at a Ucluelet Beach House
B.C. Adventures: Things to Do in February
5 Beautiful and Educational Nature and Wildlife Tours in BC
7 Beauty and Wellness Influencers to Follow in BC
11 Gifts for Galentine’s Day from B.C. Companies
14 Cute Valentine’s Day Gifts to Give in 2025
8 Gifts to Give for Lunar New Year 2025
Lilac bushes are fairly low maintenance, but that doesn't mean you can't give them a little nudge in the right direction
When caring for lilacs, make sure to pay special attention to the following tips:
Sun Power: Lilacs flower best in full sun. They are undemanding, drought-tolerant plants that will grow in most soils as long as they have good drainage. Feed with a sprinkling of lime and some well-rotted manure or an all-purpose fertilizer in early spring.
Lilace Facelifts: To rejuvenate a straggly plant, remove one-third of the trunks at the base every year for three years. Keep the strongest of the new growth and remove any additional suckers on a regular basis.
Summer Buds: Spring blooms emerge from buds that developed during the previous summer. So, do any additional pruning immediately after the flowers fade.
Pest and Diseases: French lilacs in particular can suffer from powdery mildew in summer. Most gardeners turn a blind eye to it, knowing that it will not affect the vigour of the plant. Choose one of the little-leaf lilacs like ‘Miss Kim’ for better health.
Leaf miner is an occasional problem, showing up as scorched brown blotches. Remove leaves as soon as you see symptoms, bag them and put into the garbage.
Originally published in BC Home & Garden magazine. For regular updates, subscribe to our free Home and Garden e-newsletters, or purchase a subscription to the magazine.