Starting Lilacs from Cuttings

Starting a lilac from cuttings is like cloning your bush. The new bush will have the characteristics of the old one, so make sure the parent bush is healthy and strong. At the same time, the lilac you may not look exactly like the parent plant. The lilac you buy at the garden center is, in all likelyhood, actually two different varieties. One that is used for root stock and one that is grafted onto the root stock, so if you use the suckers that grow out from the bottom of the plant, you could end up with something different entirely.

Get your equipment ready first. Take two wire coat hangers and cut the straight pieces off. Then shape them into "J"s. Nothing fancy, just make sure there is a good, big loop. You will also need a good utility knife, potting soil, and wooden stakes. Timing is important. It needs to be done during the winter, when the bush is dormant. December or January are good choices.

Find a thin branch that is flexible enough to bend to the ground. The branch should have two colors, green near the end and brown on the part towards the trunk. Where the two colors meet is called the "terminal bud scar." Use your utility knife to make a cut 1/4 of an inch deep in the brown wood just above where it turns green. Bend the branch so the cut touches the ground and hold it in place with the J hooks. If the soil is too loose, secure the J hooks with the wooden stakes. Cover the cut with about 3 to 4 inches of compost or potting soil. Keep it watered and mulched over the summer and with a bit of luck you should see roots forming just above the cut. Then the following spring, you should be able to cut the new plant away for the old one, dig it up and plant it where you wish.

All lilacs are not the same and do not root the same, so to be on the safe side do another branch the same way only make the cut in the green part of the wood and yet another with the cut on the brown part. That way you are pretty much assured of having at least one new bush.

Nothing is guaranteed in gardening, but if you take the proper precautions like not going near the bush with the lawn mower, you have a good chance for success.

Sources:

Gardeners Corner