How hard can you prune back a lilac, that is over 3m tall?

lilacs,( S. vulgaris) were neglected for a few years, and are over 3 meters in height, and extremely misshappened. Can they be prunned back hard ( e.g., sawed off at 4-5 above ground), and expected to grow back next season?

How hard can you prune back a lilac, that is over 3m tall?
Yes and no... you can radically prune lilacs and they can grow back with a little babying, but they will not grow back in a year. It took at least 20-30 years for them to get as tall as they are now.





Just cut the suckers off near the base for now, along with any obviously dead wood. Next spring *gently* prune after the blooms have faded. Then re-evaluate how much pruning still needs to be done.
Reply:Yes you can prune it back.. just cut back so that it is the shape and height that you want it and it should bloom better than ever for you the following year. I do mine all the time don%26#039;t want them to high.. or too wide.


good luck they should smell beautiful next year.


best to cut with pruners so you don%26#039;t hurt the branches..want clean cuts.


don%26#039;t use saw
Reply:I would recommend to prune just to shape it. I don%26#039;t think it would like to be pruned that hard. If you keep it to just trimming a little, you may see some flowers next spring, but you should%26#039;ve done this right after the blooming time.



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