lilac tree

[antonia]

i have two old lilac trees that are very bent long and thin one has a split in the trunk they are still flowering and doing well but look very unattractive i found them in the middle of the rhododendrons so they are hardly seen. Does anyone know wether they should be cut down to a better height or wether they can be moved especially the one with the split trunk.

[An Oasis]

You can transplant just about any plant, however, I would be hard pushed to transplant a lilac. Their roots are many and bloody long and getting all the rooting system out is a labour of love or lots of dosh!

By all means hard prune they will stand a lot of punishment. Or nuke it!

HTH


Rich

[Paul Narramore]

I've cut lilac bushes down to waist height and they will always grow back again. It does them good as the blooms will be closer to the ground and easier to smell and appreciate. As Richard rightly mentions, lilacs are as tough as old boots.