Is my lilac dying?

thecountrytownhousengA0OW4S · September 2021

Hi All,

I’m very new to gardening so appreciate any help you can give. I have a lilac at the bottom of the garden which didn’t flower very much this year and one whole side of it is looking very unhappy. Is it diseased? Is it dying? What can I do to save it as it’s my cat’s favourite!

luis_pr · September 2021

Hello, thecountrytownhousengA0OW4S. Some possibilities for yellowing in my list of lilac problems are: watering issues; are you keeping the soil too soggy or too dry (you may be watering but perhaps not enough in the summer now that it is bigger than last year)? I test how the soil feels using a finger. Also, although it likes alkaline soils more than acidic soils, it might have a nutrient (iron or nitrogen) deficiency. I did not recognize some gray spore masses on leaves that can also turn the leaves yellow (it is called Botrytis) so that is good. But that leaves only verticillium wilt, when leaves turn yellow (brown too) and sometimes wilt, often beginning on one side of the plant; then if you peel back the bark, you may see discolored wood underneath. By the way, if "Felix" "makes a toilet" out of the soil under your lilac, make sure you rinse (or pick up) the area often to dilute those -er- "chemicals".

I am sure that the cat did not mean to cause problems but those "chemicals" can quickly build up and maybe damage plant and tree roots.

thecountrytownhousengA0OW4S · September 2021

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I’m quite concerned it might be verticillium wilt which sounds horrendous. That end of the garden does get very damp and there has been mould on plants in the beds which are in the shade of the branches so it seems not a great spot for plants.

If it is that should I cut the branches worst affected off? I appreciate that once it’s infected there’s nothing I can do but was hoping to slow spread or give it chance to fight against it. Any further advice much appreciated. 🙏🏻🙂

Borderline · September 2021

I can't see the whole shrub well, but I suggest you carefully check the branches leading back to the healthy looking branches. The contrasting colouring on the leaves might be due to a damaged branch or even die-back. The way the branches droop forward makes me suspect die-back of a snapped or damaged branch behind that.

Also, another thing to remember is the lack of water around the base through the summer time due to the canopy from the leaves. It's very possible shrubs can suddenly show stress like this at the end of the summer.

thecountrytownhousengA0OW4S · September 2021

Thank you. For sure these branches are the weakest as they’ve grown intertwined across each other and it was already very established and very neglected by the time I moved here. I left those boughs as the cat enjoys bouncing amongst them like a lunatic so there’s a chance it could be she’s broken something. There is scarring on the branches but not from cat they almost look like split stretch marks in the bark. I’ll check in the morning. Thank you again to both of you for helping me with this 🙂

Fairygirl · September 2021

I agree with @Borderline here - it's more likely to be a damaged branch, rather than the whole shrub failing, plus dehydration. I expect it's very dry in there too, which won't suit it at all. Shrubs need a decent growing medium to thrive.
How is it planted? It looks like it's in a raised bed of some kind?

thecountrytownhousengA0OW4S · September 2021

Hi everyone and thanks so much for taking the trouble to respond! I’ve been out to investigate and the bottom of these boughs does look damaged and dry/rotten bit sure if this from damage or disease but would welcome views. Please could anyone advise if it would be best to cut losses and get these boughs chopped off to base and what best time of year would be to do this? I’m just keen to save the tree somehow as it’s been neglected for very long time but it’s well established. As an aside there’s a regular pile of pellet sawdust beneath few times a year so something (moth larvae maybe?) has burrowed out of it. So adding photo just for curiosity sake!

Fairygirl · September 2021

Not something I'm familiar with, but there's clearly been damage on that trunk at some point- quite severe damage, and there's possibly a pest of some kind taking advantage.
However, there are new buds just above that, so it's still alive.

It's quite difficult to judge damage without a view from further out and more info about how it's growing, and seeing the soil, which is why I asked if it's in the ground.

Borderline · September 2021

I agree with Fairygirl, the branches/trunks look worn out. Might need to see the base and how it is growing. In the ground or in a raised bed. The shrub's roots may have limited space in the area/soil.

The issue is, when the bark surface gets damaged, whether through poor pruning allowing bacterial to get inside the wood or through other insects, you have a vulnerable shrub.

As mentioned by another poster, I do feel you should give the shrub a prune. Rejuvenating shrubs can give them a boost, often throwing out fresh new branches which is important. Helps to keep your shrub more healthy. It's up to you when you prune. You can do some now but I would avoid doing anymore pruning after September especially if you live in an area that gets pretty cold over winter. Ideal time for pruning in general would be straight after flowering.

thecountrytownhousengA0OW4S · September 2021

Thank you both. Here are some additional photos. It’s planted directly in soil and I built the decking around it - underneath decking is an old concrete paved patio. I definitely do need to prune it and would like to cut off all the boughs pulling it over but I haven’t had the confidence as ironically didn’t want to damage it! I’ve felt the soil and whilst dry on top it’s still got dampness about an inch down. I might try and have a go tomorrow whilst the weather fine to give it a chance to heal before it becomes to wet/autumnal?

thecountrytownhousengA0OW4S · September 2021

Is my lilac dying?

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