Lilacs are exceptionally easy to transplant. I
have transplanted many lilac bushes from the original bushes that my grandmother
planted on our Wisconsin dairy farm 70 years ago. Early spring until late
spring, from when the lilacs develop buds until they actually have small leaves,
is the best time to transplant. If you have lilacs growing in your yard -- or if
you have a friend who has lilacs -- and you would like to start some new lilac
bushes, here's how:
1. Decide where you want to transplant the lilac bush or bushes.
2. Dig a hole that's about one foot deep by one foot across for each bush you
want to transplant.
3. Dig up a lilac shoot from somewhere around the main bush. Lilacs spread by
runners. Use a shovel to dig up the shoot because you are going to have to cut
off the runner, and a trowel will not be tough enough to do the job. Choose a
shoot that is approximately 8 to 14 inches high. Smaller shoots that are only a
few inches high will take a very long time to mature to the point where they
will have flowers. Larger shoots seem to take a longer time to recover from
being transplanted before they start to grow well. Do not worry about how much
root you are getting with the shoot. You will not be able to take all of the
root since the roots are all connected.
4. Put the shoot in a bucket of water if you are not going to transplant it
immediately so that it will not dry out. If you are going to transplant it
immediately, carry it to the hole you have dug and set it in the hole.
5. Center the shoot in the hole and fill in with dirt. Leave a three or four
inch depression around the shoot so you will have a reservoir for water.
6. Water your new lilac bush with a couple of gallons of water. Continue
watering the bush several times a week for the rest of the season to ensure that
it has a good start. From what I have observed, lilacs seem to be quite drought
resistant, although like any plant, tree or bush, they will grow more if they
have plenty of water. In subsequent years, water your new lilac bush from time
to time, especially if rain is in short supply.
Note: I have noticed that it takes 4 or 5 years for the new bushes to grow
enough to start producing flowers, although bushes that I transplanted from
small shoots only a few inches high are taking longer than that.
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About the Author
LeAnn R. Ralph is the author of the books "Christmas in Dairyland (True Stories
from a Wisconsin Farm" (trade paperback 2003); "Give Me a Home Where the Dairy
Cows Roam" (trade paperback 2004); "Preserve Your Family History" (e-book 2004).
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