Caring for a Preston Lilac (Syringa x prestoniae)

Photo:

Syringa x prestoniae Belgium National Botanic Garden

Successfully growing a Preston Lilac requires thoughtful consideration of your local climate and soil conditions. This guide is based on firsthand experience from the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden in Lethbridge, Alberta—a city located in hardiness zone 4B, where winters are cold, and the climate is relatively dry. You can also see Preston Lilac by visiting Nikka Yuko.

Planting Location:

Full Sun: Preston Lilacs thrive in full sun, so choose a location that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day.

Quick Growing Guide

Ritchie Feed and Seed Ad

Botanical Name: Syringa x prestoniae

Colour:

Blooms:

Sun / Shade:

Watering:

Hardiness Zones:

Care:

Well-Drained Soil: Ensure the soil is well-draining as lilacs don’t like wet feet. If your soil tends to be heavy or clay-like, amend it with compost or sand to improve drainage.

Wind Protection: Lethbridge can have strong winds, so planting your lilac near a windbreak (like a fence or building) can help protect it from wind stress.

Soil and Fertilization:

Soil pH: Lilacs prefer slightly alkaline to neutral soil (pH of 6.5 to 7.0). If your soil is too acidic, you can add lime to raise the pH.

Fertilizing: You can fertilize your lilac in early spring with a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) before new growth starts. Avoid over-fertilizing, as too much nitrogen can reduce flowering.

Watering:

Moderate Watering: Water the lilac deeply but infrequently. During dry periods, water every 7-10 days, but make sure the soil drains well so the roots don’t sit in water.

Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch (2-3 inches) around the base of the plant to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and protect the roots in the winter.

Pruning:

After Blooming: Prune your Preston Lilac after it has finished flowering, typically in late spring or early summer. This encourages healthy growth and prevents cutting off next year’s flower buds.

Deadheading: Remove spent flowers to keep the plant looking neat, and trim back any dead or damaged wood.

Winter Care:

Protection Against Cold: Lethbridge has cold winters, so consider wrapping the base of the plant with burlap or using mulch around the roots to protect them from extreme cold.

Snow Cover: Snow can act as insulation, so let nature protect your lilac if you have snowfall. If it’s a particularly harsh winter, consider adding extra mulch.

Avoid Pruning in Fall: Don’t prune in late fall because it could stimulate new growth that won’t harden off before the winter freeze.

Pest and Disease Control:

Monitor for Pests: While lilacs are generally resistant to pests, they can occasionally attract aphids or powdery mildew. Treat with insecticidal soap or remove affected leaves as necessary.

Air Circulation: Ensure good air circulation around the plant to reduce the risk of fungal diseases like powdery mildew, especially in the humid summer months.

Winterizing and Mulching:

Each fall, applying a 3-4 inch layer of mulch around the root zone to help protect against temperature fluctuations.

Since the Preston Lilac is quite hardy, it should withstand Lethbridge’s cold winters as long as it is well-established and has good soil drainage.

With proper care, your Preston Lilac will bring vibrant color and fragrance to your landscape for years to come.!

More Resources

For more insights on lilac propagation and pruning.

About the Author

Comments

Leave a Reply

More From Gardening Calendar

Planting Peas from Seed

Learn more about Lydia Wong's bee cocoon study and discover how to plant peas from seed in this weekend gardening article! Lydia was amazed by the garden, check out the double bloodroots, bee cocoons, and more! Enjoy the wonders of early spring as you grow and pot up your pea plants with a greenhouse and compost/garden soil mixture for safety and success!

How to Propagate Cyclamen

When propagating cyclamens, remember that each propagation technique is not necessarily suitable for all types of cyclamens.. We explain how.

Calendula Seeds In an Envelope

Learn easy tips for harvesting calendula seeds, the different colors you could find, the benefits of growing them in your own garden, and how to save the seeds for the next year. With calendula, you can get a colorful, tasty, pollinator-friendly garden–even on a dark and stormy night. Start your garden now and enjoy beautiful tomatoes, too.

On Harvesting and Drying Sage

Discover Judy's simple process to dry Sage in the oven, which you can use to make tea & add taste to your dishes. Also find out the medicinal benefits of dried sage & how it helps against depression & Alzheimer's.

Tomato Care Growing Questions and Answers

Answer: Tomatoes grow good vines because they require plenty of sunlight and warm temperatures. To get the most out of your tomato plants it is important to provide them with at least 8 hours of direct sunlight and an average temperature of 75- 80 degrees. Additionally, they need plenty of soil nutrients and regular pruning to keep them healthy and to generate more tomatoes. Learn how to maintain your tomato plants for maximum fruit-bearing potential!