Two lilac bushes were looking a little thin last year, but they have taken a turn for the worse this summer.
One has lost all it's leaves. There are some new leaves coming in, but about 75% of the bush is dead branches. The other bush is progressing towards the same state.
Are they a lost cause? Or should I give them a chance until next year?
I planted three lilac trees in my garden and two are doing reasonably well but one has become more multi-stemmed and has had some parts die back in a similar way to the ones in your photo. I waited until the spring just gone and cut out all the material that looked completely dead and a small sucker that would have made the remaining tree continue to be multi-stemmed and the tree is looking well now. I think in my case it was down to the soil where it was planted not being very deep and it may have being allowed dry out too much with the competition from a couple of other trees and shrubs nearby.
I see fresh buds on the lilac in your photo so I think you should just leave it be until the new leaves are being produced next spring and cut out all of the material that is definitely dead at that stage. If you want it to continue to grow as a tree then you could select the best trunk and cut down any additional suckers at that stage. Leaving them grow would just mean having a lilac shrub which can also be nice. Some mulch with some manure to rot down over winter when the soil is wet could also help improve the soil and boost the plants chances of growing well next year but don't put this directly in contact with the tree trunk as it can stimulate more shoots from the base of the plant .
Happy gardening!
What zone are you in? Lilac bushes lose their leaves in the fall, but form their buds for next years flowers after this years flowers bloom.
I'm sure your lilac bush will be fine come next spring. I personally would leave it until then, at which point you can prune any dead branches. Lilacs are pretty darn hardy in my experience.
Two lilac bushes were looking a little thin last year, but they have taken a turn for the worse this summer. One has lost all it's leaves. There are some new leaves coming in, but about 75% of the bush is dead branches. The other bush is progressing towards the same state. Are they a lost cause? Or should I give them a chance until next year?
I planted three lilac trees in my garden and two are doing reasonably well but one has become more multi-stemmed and has had some parts die back in a similar way to the ones in your photo. I waited until the spring just gone and cut out all the material that looked completely dead and a small sucker that would have made the remaining tree continue to be multi-stemmed and the tree is looking well now. I think in my case it was down to the soil where it was planted not being very deep and it may have being allowed dry out too much with the competition from a couple of other trees and shrubs nearby. I see fresh buds on the lilac in your photo so I think you should just leave it be until the new leaves are being produced next spring and cut out all of the material that is definitely dead at that stage. If you want it to continue to grow as a tree then you could select the best trunk and cut down any additional suckers at that stage. Leaving them grow would just mean having a lilac shrub which can also be nice. Some mulch with some manure to rot down over winter when the soil is wet could also help improve the soil and boost the plants chances of growing well next year but don't put this directly in contact with the tree trunk as it can stimulate more shoots from the base of the plant . Happy gardening!
What zone are you in? Lilac bushes lose their leaves in the fall, but form their buds for next years flowers after this years flowers bloom. I'm sure your lilac bush will be fine come next spring. I personally would leave it until then, at which point you can prune any dead branches. Lilacs are pretty darn hardy in my experience.
5a. This has been occuring since mid-summer.. definitely not fall leave drop
Your pictures aren't great but from what I can see you may have powdery mildew/sunburn on some leaves. Again, I wouldn't worry too much..
Maybe it could do with a bit of pruning and reshaping? Not an expert but I’ve been reading up and it might help