How to Plant a Lilac Bush

The common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is a shrub that grows from 5 to 15 feet in height and produces showy, fragrant flowers. A versatile plant, the lilacs are grown as windbreaks, screening plants and in cutting gardens. The common lilac prefers cool weather, although a few varieties will grow in the South and other warm regions of the country. For best results, grow the common lilac bush in full sun in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 7. The best time to plant a lilac bush is in fall, but you can also plant in spring.

Herbicide (optional)
Compost or rotted manure
Shovel

Instructions

- 1
  Remove weeds and turf from the planting area. If you use an herbicide, read the label carefully to determine how long to wait until you can plant the lilac bush.
- 2
  Add 3 inches of compost or rotted manure to the soil and mix it into the top 6 inches. The organic material helps aerate the soil, assisting in drainage. Lilacs grown in soils with poor drainage fail to thrive and may die if the roots rot.
- 3
  Dig the planting hole to the same depth as the nursery pot in which the lilac bush is growing but three times as wide. Remove the plant from the pot and place the roots in the hole, fanning them out on the bottom.
- 4
  Shovel soil into the hole until it is half full, then fill the hole with water. As the water drains, it settles the soil around the lilac bush’s roots and removes air pockets.
- 5
  Finish filling the hole with soil and slowly water the lilac bush until the soil is saturated. Water in this manner two to three times a week -- provided it doesn’t rain -- for the first month after planting. After that, the lilac bush requires 1 inch of water a week.

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