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Problem Solver Plant Marquee

Plant:

Lilac
Image of Lilac
Flowering
May or June.
Adaptation
Northern parts of the country, though some species can grow as far south as central Florida.
Pruning
To shape young plants, pinch off growing tips. Remove dead flowers immediately after blooming and prune out dead and weak wood. To renew old plants, cut a few of the oldest stems to the ground each year after flowering; or cut the entire plant almost to the ground.
Soil
Any good garden soil high in organic matter.
Water
Water deeply but infrequently.
Fertilizer
Fertilize with an all-purpose plant food.
Light
Full sun.
Related problems

Bacterial Blight - Lilac

Image of Bacterial Blight - Lilac
Bacterial Blight

Failure to Bloom - Lilac

Image of Failure to Bloom - Lilac
Failure to Bloom

Lilac Borer -

Image of Lilac Borer
Lilac Borer

Lilac Leaf Miner -

Image of Lilac Leaf Miner
Lilac Leaf Miner

Powdery Mildew - Lilac

Image of Powdery Mildew - Lilac
Powdery Mildew

Scales - Lilac

Image of Scales - Lilac
Scales
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Bacterial Blight - Lilac

Image of Bacterial Blight - Lilac
Bacterial Blight
Description
Brown spots surrounded by large areas of yellow appear on the leaves in early spring. Spots slowly increase in size during rainy periods. The leaves are usually distorted. Immature leaves turn black and die. Infected young stems bend over at the lesion, wither, and die. Buds may turn dark brown and die without opening. Parts of the flower, or entire flower clusters, may become limp, turn dark brown, and die.
Analysis

This plant disease is caused by a bacterium (Pseudomonas syringae) that may seriously damage lilacs during cool, wet weather. The bacteria overwinter in lilac buds, infected twigs, and plant debris and on other hosts. They are spread by wind, rain, and splashing water. Frost while buds are swelling or shoots are just beginning growth favors disease development. The bacteria cause spots on leaves that are olive green at first and later turn brown surrounded by yellow. If wet weather persists, the bacteria spread through the tissue, forming blotches. Young plant parts are more severely affected. Leaves and young shoots blacken rapidly and die. Leaves die on older stems within the infected area. Flowers often become limp and blighted.

Solution

Prune out and destroy blighted shoots immediately, cutting well below the infected tissue. Locate lilacs in places sheltered from frost. Plant resistant varieties.

Close

Failure to Bloom - Lilac

Image of Failure to Bloom - Lilac
Failure to Bloom
Description
Lilacs either fail to produce blooms in the spring or have a weak bloom.
Analysis

Lilacs may fail to bloom for several reasons. 1. Cold injury: Extreme winter temperatures or late spring cold snaps can kill lilac flower buds, which form during the late summer or fall. 2. Improper pruning: Because lilacs produce flower buds in the summer, pruning in the winter or spring will remove these potential flowers. 3. Too much shade: Lilacs growing in deep shade may fail to form flower buds. 4. Heavy pruning or transplanting: Lilacs that have been pruned heavily or recently transplanted will often wait a year or more to bloom.

Solution

Plant lilacs in a protected spot in the garden. Prune lilacs after they have finished blooming by cutting back the longer branches. Expose the plants to brighter light by pruning away some of the surrounding vegetation, or transplant to a location that receives at least 6 hours of sun a day.

Close

Lilac Borer -

Image of Lilac Borer
Lilac Borer
Description
Branch tips wilt in late summer, especially during warm, dry periods. Affected branches may die or break off. The stems near the ground are swollen and cracked. Sawdust is often found around holes in the stems and on the ground below infested stems.
Analysis

Podosesia syringae The lilac borer, also called the ash borer, is the larva of a brownish, clear-winged moth that resembles a wasp. Moths fly around the plant in late spring. The moths lay their eggs in cracks or bark wounds at the base of the stems. The cream-colored larvae bore into the wood, feeding on sapwood and heartwood. The stems become swollen and may break where the larvae are feeding. Their feeding also cuts off the flow of nutrients and water through the stems, causing the shoots to wilt and die. The larvae spend the winter in the stems. In spring, they feed for a few weeks before maturing into moths. Several other borers may infest lilac.

Solution

Before moths emerge in the spring, cut out infested stems to ground level and destroy them. Apply an insecticide labeled for this pest, following label directions.

Close

Lilac Leaf Miner -

Image of Lilac Leaf Miner
Lilac Leaf Miner
Description
Light green blotches appear on the leaves in early summer; the blotches turn brown and are often wrinkled. Later, the leaf tips are curled and tied together with silken webbing. The upper surfaces of the rolled leaves appear eaten. If a blotch is torn open, a tiny green worm may be found inside. The rolled leaf tips may contain a thin white cocoon or a pale yellow worm, up to 1/3 inch long.
Analysis

Caloptilia syringella The lilac leaf miner is the larva of a small brown moth that infests both lilac and privet. In late spring, moths emerge and deposit their eggs on the lower surfaces of leaves. The emerging larvae enter the leaves and mine within the tissue between the upper and lower surfaces. About the time the mines turn brown, the worms crawl to the leaf tips and curl the leaves around themselves. They feed for several weeks inside the leaves and then drop to the ground to pupate. The adults that emerge in late summer lay the eggs of a second generation, which survives the winter as pupae in plant litter.

Solution

If the infestation is heavy, apply an insecticide labeled for this pest, following label directions. If the infestation is light, pick off and destroy both mined and curled leaves before the larvae drop to the ground to pupate.

Close

Powdery Mildew - Lilac

Image of Powdery Mildew - Lilac
Powdery Mildew
Description
The leaves are covered with a thin layer or irregular patches of a grayish white powdery material. Infected leaves may turn yellow and drop off. New growth is often stunted. In late summer, tiny black dots (spore-producing bodies) are scattered over the white patches like ground pepper.
Analysis

This common plant disease is caused by a fungus (Microsphaera alni) that thrives in both humid and dry weather. The powdery patches consist of fungal strands and spores. The fungus saps plant nutrients, causing yellowing and sometimes the death of the leaf. Since this mildew attacks many different kinds of trees and shrubs, the fungus from a diseased plant may infect other plants in the garden.

Solution

Apply a fungicide labeled for this disease, following label directions.

Close

Scales - Lilac

Image of Scales - Lilac
Scales
Description
Clusters of somewhat flattened grayish, brownish, or white scaly bumps cover the trunk and branches. The bumps can be scraped or picked off; their undersides are usually soft. Leaves are dwarfed and yellow and may drop; plant growth is poor. Twigs and branches may die.
Analysis

Several species of scales infest lilacs. They lay their eggs on the bark, and in early to late spring the young scales, called crawlers, settle on the trunk, branches, and twigs. The small (1/10 inch), soft-bodied young feed by sucking sap from the plant. The legs usually atrophy, and a hard crusty shell develops over the body. Mature female scales lay their eggs underneath their shells. In warmer climates, there may be several generations a year. An uncontrolled infestation of scales may kill the plant after two or three seasons.

Solution

Apply an insecticide labeled for this pest, following label directions.

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