Meyer lilac: when and how to prune

Meyer lilac: when to prune it?

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In June, straight after the first flush of flowers.

What else to prune in those months? June

Meyer lilac: how to prune it?

1. Cut off the spent panicles just above a few leaves.
2. Shorten over-long stems to keep the rounded shape.
3. Remove dead, weak and crossing stems.
4. For a standard: lightly trim the head into a neat ball.

How much to cut, and how often?

• One pruning period a year: June.
• Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.

What does it mean for wildlife?

• Pruning in June can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
• Meyer lilac flowers in May–June and September, when it attracts bees and butterflies.
• If pruning falls during flowering, wait until it is over or leave part of the plant to flower, so bees and butterflies still benefit.
• Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.

Common mistakes

• Clipping without first checking for nesting birds.
• Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.

Nearby: related pruning guides

• Lilac
• Chinese lilac (Syringa × chinensis)
• Hungarian lilac
• Littleleaf lilac (Syringa pubescens subsp. microphylla)
• Persian lilac
• Preston lilac (Syringa × prestoniae)

Plant profile: Meyer lilac · Pruning calendar and basic rules