LILAC BUSHES

Evening Star, Issue 22276, 29 February 1936, Page 21

LILAC BUSHES

REMOVE THE SUCKERS , If you have a common lilac bush in your garden there are only two occasions when suckers are an advantage. One is when it is desired to increase the supply of lilac for planting in other parts of the garden, or tor friends. The other is when the tree has grown so tall and lanky that it entirely lacks flowers and foliage at the base. Suckers can then be allowed, to hide the bare base, while the upper part of the tree can be gradually _ reduced to more reasonable proportions, (says the ‘ Dominion’s ’ gardening contributor). But remember,, these exceptions apply only to common lilac. It would be fatal to allow any suckers at all to develop on any modern named varieties of lilac. These are produced by being grafted on to common lilac stock. Suckers are then a real danger, for, if left, the bushes soon become crowded with useless growths, and the bush reverts to its common form. If, then, you have allowed any young shoots to spring up from around the base of your lilac bush, remove them, as soon as possible. A sucker is easily recognised, no matter how long it may be. "It grows up out of the soil—never direct from the stem above soil level. Should you have any doubts, carefully scrape away the soil from the sucker and trace, it back to its point nf origin, which will be either direct from the roots or from below the grafted part of the stem. ■ ■ In any case you must lay bare the whole length of the sucker, for you must cut it off at the very point where it started growth. To cut off these shoots at soil level will only encourage more suckers to grow. - Using a sharp knife, pare off the sucker flush with its “ parent.” If you cut deeply into the root smear the wound with clay so • that it will heal quickly and cleanly. -