Any Lilac experts out there that can give the rundown on how I should go about transplanting my lilacs? I've read a few different things that contradict each other so I'm just a little confused and also have questions that I could not find answers to. Here's the situations, we have a lot of lilac bushes on one side of our yard, they happen to be on the shady side of our house, so needless to say, they never bloom, every other year or so we might get 3 or 4 blooms. So I've been very disappointed as I love lilacs, so I really want to get these guys out of the shade and into the sun, on the other side of the house. Here is what I've read, one site said that you can transpland lilacs any time of the year but it is best to do it in the spring, but another site said you should do it in October or November. And I also wondered since we really don't have any blooms on them anyway, does it really matter when we do it? Anyone? I read on one sight that there wouldn't be any blooms for possibly 4 or 5 years, another sight said they may just skip 1 year. Does this depend on the bush? What I really want to know about is whether I should prune them down or not, one site said that with Lilacs you shouldn't because it will effect next years blooms. So since we don't have any blooms anyway, would it be ok for me to just cut them, it will make the transplant a lot easier I think, wont it?
Lilacs are the toughest shrubs there are. They can be moved at any time of the year but of course early spring is best. I am assuming these are going to be moved to a much sunnier location. Therefore when moving them aim for a cool if possible rainy day. Dig your hole water it well with 2 or 3 pails full of water. Before digging the Lilacs water them very well the day before so the dirt will stay on the roots. When digging them take as much dirt as possible and don't let the air get to the roots. Plop them into the new hole water in well and voila they are there. Good luck and oh BTW do not trim them at the same time as that is too much shock..They may not flower a lot next year but look out after that..