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Home and Garden
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Planting and Growing
How to Prune Lilacs Download Article Co-authored by Steve Masley
Last Updated: April 16, 2025 Approved
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Doing an Annual Pruning
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Rejuvenating an Overgrown Lilac
|
Expert Q&A
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Tips
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Warnings
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Things You'll Need
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This article was co-authored by Steve Masley. Steve Masley has been designing and maintaining organic vegetable gardens in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 30 years. He is an Organic Gardening Consultant and Founder of Grow-It-Organically, a website that teaches clients and students the ins and outs of organic vegetable gardening. In 2007 and 2008, Steve taught the Local Sustainable Agriculture Field Practicum at Stanford University. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 39 testimonials and 100% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 567,907 times.
Fragrant, colorful lilacs are easy to grow in most regions. Whether your lilac is a shrub or a small tree, it will need to be regularly pruned in order to maintain a healthy shape and size. To prune lilacs, get to work in the spring: cut fresh flowers for bouquets, nip off the longest stems, and thin out any weak stems at the base. Avoid pruning late in the summer or fall since doing so can limit future growth.
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Part 1 Part 1 of 2:
Doing an Annual Pruning
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1 Cut fresh flowers in the spring. When lilac flowers reach their peak and are just this side of fading out, cutting them to create indoor bouquets actually helps the plant. Left on their stems, the flowers will die but continue sapping energy that could be spent on new growth. So don't feel guilty or wasteful when you go outside with your hand trimmers to take off the prettiest flowers - you're doing just the right thing for your lilac bush or tree.[1]XResearch source
Another term for this type of pruning is deadheading. In addition to pruning flowers just past their peak, prune those that are already dying.
Make the cut just at the base of the flowers.
You can disinfect your tools before you prune to avoid spreading disease to your lilac bush. Simply wipe it down with a disinfectant spray or rubbing alcohol.
2 Nip off the long stems. Take a look at your lilac bush or tree and assess whether there are any extra-long but healthy-looking stems that need to be cut back. Doing so will help the lilac keep its pretty shape. The process of cutting back the stems a bit is called tipping off. Use a hand clipper to cut longer stems back to the next closest pair of side shoots.[2]XResearch source
This means you'll be trimming the stem back beyond the flowered part, and all the way down to where side shoots are growing off.
If A long stem doesn't have side shoots closer to the base, trim it back to the closest node or bud, where new shoots will sprout.
Tipping encourages lilacs to sprout new healthy, bushy growth near the cut.
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3 Thin the lilac. Search for dead or diseased stems. If you see any limp, brown or diseased stems in your lilac bush or tree, cut them out close to the base. This process is called thinning, and it helps the plant by allowing fresh air to circulate through the plant and removing dying foliage that sap its energy.[3]X Expert Source Steve MasleyHome & Garden SpecialistExpert Interview [4]XResearch source
4 Don't prune later in the summer or fall. This annual pruning should take place during spring (May or June in the northern hemisphere, around September to November in the southern hemisphere). Such pruning will encourage the development of new buds, which will continue maturing over the year before they bloom the following spring. However, if you prune too late in the summer, you risk cutting away some of this new growth - hence causing next spring's bloom to fall short.[5]XResearch source
If you prune in the fall or winter, your lilac may not produce flowers at all.
Advertisement Part 2 Part 2 of 2:
Rejuvenating an Overgrown Lilac
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1 Take an assessment of your lilac. If it's old, overgrown, or unshapely, giving it a rejuvenating pruning will help restore it to a healthier and more attractive state. This type of pruning goes beyond a lighter annual pruning to severely cut the bush or tree back, allowing for new growth to occur.
Do your assessment in early spring, before the lilac has come back to life. This is the best time of year for a deeper pruning.
Keep in mind that doing a rejuvenating pruning will mean losing the maturing buds that would otherwise turn into this spring's flowers. Though you might sacrifice this year's blossoms, you'll be rewarded in the following seasons with better growth and flowers.
2 Determine if your lilac was grafted. Some lilacs are grafted with other varieties in order to produce a particular flower shape or color. Grafted plants need to be pruned with a bit more care, since cutting below the grafted area will disturb the graft and change the way your plant grows. Look for an area on one of the lilac's main trunks where there's a noticeable difference in bark near a lump. This is probably the graft. If you see no such thing, the plant likely hasn't been grafted, so there's no need to look out when you make cuts.[6]XResearch source
3 Use clippers to trim the plant close to the ground. If the trunks are very thick, you may need a saw. Cut each branch back by 1/3 to 1/2. The lilac will grow back, but it'll take a season or two.
If you discovered that your plant was grafted, be sure not to cut below the graft.
4 Cut back the suckers. Suckers are baby trunks growing out from the original plant, or sprouting from the ground close by. Cut these back all the way to the base of the trunk or the ground to prevent them from getting any bigger. Suckers take away energy from the rest of the plant. A healthy lilac bush or tree should have no more than 2 or 3 large trunks.[7]XResearch source
5 Fertilize the plant afterwards. If you have heavily pruned your lilacs, you should fertilize the plant afterwards to restore the pH balance in the soil. You can use compost, manure, or a prepackaged blend around the plant to help it recover.[8]XResearch source
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Expert Q&A
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Question When should you cut back a lilac tree? Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Expert Answer It is best done right after the tree has finished flowering, and should not be done until the tree reaches about 6-8 feet in height. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 23
Question How do you cut lilacs? Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Expert Answer It is best to isolate about 1/3 of the flowers that are still unbloomed and have a thick healthy stem. Remove the rest of the flowers by making the cuts at a 45-degree angle about 1 inch from the bottom of the stem. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 10 Helpful 8
Question Can you cut back lilac bushes in the fall? Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Expert Answer No, cutting them in the fall will cause you to cut off the next year's blossoms. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 8
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Tips
If a bloom fades earlier in the season than the flowers on other branches, cut the spent bloom before the others. This ensures that the lilac will bloom the following year. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
As soon as the flowers bloom, begin the process of pruning by clipping a few for placement within your home. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Using hedge clippers can be as effective as pruning shears, but using them to prune lilac bushes may take away from the plant's allure, giving it an overly trimmed look. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
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Warnings
Do not remove too many stems. The general rule is to remove approximately a third of your stems and to balance the removal of old and new stems. Since old stems produce flowers, you want to keep many around. But trimming all your new stems will result in the plant failing to bloom in the future. Thanks Helpful 61 Not Helpful 24
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Things You'll Need
Pruning shears
Small garden saw or hand saw
Gardening gloves
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Co-authored by: Steve Masley Home & Garden Specialist This article was co-authored by Steve Masley. Steve Masley has been designing and maintaining organic vegetable gardens in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 30 years. He is an Organic Gardening Consultant and Founder of Grow-It-Organically, a website that teaches clients and students the ins and outs of organic vegetable gardening. In 2007 and 2008, Steve taught the Local Sustainable Agriculture Field Practicum at Stanford University. This article has been viewed 567,907 times. 20 votes - 100% Co-authors: 22Updated: April 16, 2025 Views: 567,907 Categories: Growing Trees and Shrubs | Planting and GrowingArticle SummaryX
To prune your lilacs, start deadheading in early-to-late spring by cutting the flowers at their base just after they’ve reached their peak. You should also cut any flowers that are already dying so they don’t sap energy that could be used for new growth. Then, use a hand clipper to cut back any extra-long stems all the way down to where side shoots are growing. Tipping off your lilacs in this way will encourage them to sprout new, healthy growth near those cuts. Finally, thin any dead or diseased stems by cutting them off close to the base. To learn from our Horticulturist reviewer how to rejuvenate your overgrown lilac, keep reading!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Sheri Maze
Apr 11, 2016
"Excellent article. Told me how to trim, when to trim, and what not to trim. I have four lilac trees planted along a creek area. They don't get any water other than from the root and the rain. I've had them for about six years now and haven't trimmed them back. I needed to know how to cut them and when. Thank you!"..." more
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Steve Masley Home & Garden Specialist Co-authors: 22Updated: April 16, 2025 Views: 567,907100% of readers found this article helpful. 20 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote
Sheri Maze
Apr 11, 2016
"Excellent article. Told me how to trim, when to trim, and what not to trim. I have four lilac trees planted along a creek area. They don't get any water other than from the root and the rain. I've had them for about six years now and haven't trimmed them back. I needed to know how to cut them and when. Thank you!"..." more
RITA JO HAYES
Apr 13, 2018
"I found everything posted very helpful. This will be the first time I will be pruning my 3 bushes. 1 is is approximately 7-8 ft tall shaped like a tree, blooms only at the to, 1 bush med, 1bush Small both bushy. I Want all 3 more like a tree. Thank you."..." more
Steven R.
May 27, 2017
"I'm new to trimming lilacs and have one young bush and one overgrown mature tree. This helped me understand especially that I should only have two to three healthy trunks on the young bush, and when and how I should cut back the overgrown mature tree."..." more Rated this article:
Tracy Thompson
Jun 6, 2016
"Great information for anyone wanting to know how and when to prune lilac trees. Article is very specific. Having the pictures to illustrate steps is great for people like me who like visual demonstrations. Can't wait to go prune my lilac trees!"..." more
Angela Valdez
Jun 17, 2019
"I have never had a lilac bush before, and there are dozens in my yard (new house). They have not been pruned in ages, and I was curious about how and when to do that (or even if I should do it). This article answered all my questions."..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Co-authored by: Steve Masley Home & Garden Specialist This article was co-authored by Steve Masley. Steve Masley has been designing and maintaining organic vegetable gardens in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 30 years. He is an Organic Gardening Consultant and Founder of Grow-It-Organically, a website that teaches clients and students the ins and outs of organic vegetable gardening. In 2007 and 2008, Steve taught the Local Sustainable Agriculture Field Practicum at Stanford University. This article has been viewed 567,907 times. 20 votes - 100% Co-authors: 22 Updated: April 16, 2025 Views: 567,907 Categories: Growing Trees and Shrubs | Planting and Growing Article SummaryX
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1 Cut fresh flowers in the spring. When lilac flowers reach their peak and are just this side of fading out, cutting them to create indoor bouquets actually helps the plant. Left on their stems, the flowers will die but continue sapping energy that could be spent on new growth. So don't feel guilty or wasteful when you go outside with your hand trimmers to take off the prettiest flowers - you're doing just the right thing for your lilac bush or tree.[1] 
2 Nip off the long stems. Take a look at your lilac bush or tree and assess whether there are any extra-long but healthy-looking stems that need to be cut back. Doing so will help the lilac keep its pretty shape. The process of cutting back the stems a bit is called tipping off. Use a hand clipper to cut longer stems back to the next closest pair of side shoots.[2] 
3 Thin the lilac. Search for dead or diseased stems. If you see any limp, brown or diseased stems in your lilac bush or tree, cut them out close to the base. This process is called thinning, and it helps the plant by allowing fresh air to circulate through the plant and removing dying foliage that sap its energy.[3] [4] 
4 Don't prune later in the summer or fall. This annual pruning should take place during spring (May or June in the northern hemisphere, around September to November in the southern hemisphere). Such pruning will encourage the development of new buds, which will continue maturing over the year before they bloom the following spring. However, if you prune too late in the summer, you risk cutting away some of this new growth - hence causing next spring's bloom to fall short.[5] 
1 Take an assessment of your lilac. If it's old, overgrown, or unshapely, giving it a rejuvenating pruning will help restore it to a healthier and more attractive state. This type of pruning goes beyond a lighter annual pruning to severely cut the bush or tree back, allowing for new growth to occur. 
2 Determine if your lilac was grafted. Some lilacs are grafted with other varieties in order to produce a particular flower shape or color. Grafted plants need to be pruned with a bit more care, since cutting below the grafted area will disturb the graft and change the way your plant grows. Look for an area on one of the lilac's main trunks where there's a noticeable difference in bark near a lump. This is probably the graft. If you see no such thing, the plant likely hasn't been grafted, so there's no need to look out when you make cuts.[6] 
3 Use clippers to trim the plant close to the ground. If the trunks are very thick, you may need a saw. Cut each branch back by 1/3 to 1/2. The lilac will grow back, but it'll take a season or two. 
4 Cut back the suckers. Suckers are baby trunks growing out from the original plant, or sprouting from the ground close by. Cut these back all the way to the base of the trunk or the ground to prevent them from getting any bigger. Suckers take away energy from the rest of the plant. A healthy lilac bush or tree should have no more than 2 or 3 large trunks.[7] 
5 Fertilize the plant afterwards. If you have heavily pruned your lilacs, you should fertilize the plant afterwards to restore the pH balance in the soil. You can use compost, manure, or a prepackaged blend around the plant to help it recover.[8] Advertisement 
Maggie Moran Home & Garden Specialist Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. 
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