Fragrant French Lilac Collection

• Grow lilac plants in fertile, well drained soil in full sun.
• Feed and water regularly throughout the growing season while young plants become established.
• Lilac can be pruned in winter or spring by removing any damaged, diseased or misplaced stems before lightly shaping to retain the standard form and height. In mid-summer, faded flowers can be removed from the plants.
• After pruning, apply a mulch of well-rotted manure or compost to the base of the lilac.

To Plant

• Shrub roots generally tend to spread out rather than down, so dig a planting hole 3 x wider than the roots of the shrub you're planting, and mix some well rotted compost or manure with the soil from the hole and use this to re-fill one the shrub is in place.
• We've found that a square hole is better than a round one as the new roots, once they reach the edges tend to grow in a circle round the circumference of the hole whereas when they reach the corners of a square hole, they find it easier to grow through.
• Before planting soak container-grown shrubs thoroughly and allow to drain.
• Remove the plant from its pot and tease out a few of the roots.
• Add Mycorrhizal fungi to the roots when planting to help plants establish quicker.
• Place your shrub in the hole at the same level at the pot.
• Refill the hole with the earth removed (backfilling).
• Firm in the soil with your heel, avoiding the root ball and water well.
• Mulch around the base of the plant with a collar, compost, gravel, bark etc.