Fox-Jackson Designs aka Exterior Designscapes

05/31/2026

✂️ Pruning Lilacs: Timing Is Everything! The time is NOW🌸

Love those fragrant lilac blooms? Here’s the biggest pruning mistake homeowners make:

🚫 Don’t prune lilacs in late summer, fall, or early spring.

Lilacs set next year’s flower buds shortly after they finish blooming. If you prune too late, you’ll be cutting off next year’s flowers before they ever have a chance to bloom.

✅ The best time to prune lilacs is immediately after they finish flowering.

While you’re at it:
• Remove spent flower clusters
• Cut out dead or damaged branches
• Thin a few older stems at the base to improve air circulation and rejuvenate the shrub

A little pruning at the right time means bigger, better blooms next spring.

🌸 Your future self will thank you when the lilacs put on a show next year!