We have 4 mini Lilac bushes (Tinkerbell) planted in a row in front of our deck. The two bushes on the left side are 3 years old and thriving beautifully, but the other two always die off and we have had to replace them 3 times already.
I've been religious about watering and fertilizing them, but eventually the leaves turn brown and curl up and the bush dies. I'm at my wit's end. The bushes are close together so I don't know why this is happening.
Hardiness Zone: 5b
By Joan Majchrzak from Orchard Park, NY
Lilac bushes don't do well in acidic soil, if you have pine trees near them they will do poorly. Ask your county extension officer about it, he may have some thoughts. You could add lime to the spot if the soil is acidic to neutralize it, you may need to do this every year or so. Good luck:)
I would take a leaf into a nursery and see if they can analyze it under a microscope. A soil test also is a good idea, but it seems odd that it would be so different a few feet away from the others.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I have a white lilac and I think it has lilac blight. The new tips turn brown and die back and the leaves are deformed. What can I do to save the lilac?
By jill
Why do my lilac leaves curl and turn brown? I have had it several years and it has never bloomed. It is from an old bush I had in my yard that did well, and I took a large piece of the root to replant in the home I presently live in. I still live in the same city and state.
By Phyllis G
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
Why are my lilac leaves turning brown? They have finished blooming long ago. It started with just a few and only brown along the edges of the leaves. Now it has spread rampant.
