How to Grow a Purple Sensation Tree
- 1). Plant lilacs in the spring when the ground has warmed up enough to be worked. Space lilacs at least 10 feet apart. Sensation lilacs grow 10 to 15 feet tall with a 6- to 10-foot spread. Because powdery mildew is a common problem with lilac bushes, air circulation is very important and the best way to ensure circulation is to give plants enough space.
- 2). Select a growing site with well-drained soil in full sun and amend it with quality organic matter such as homemade or store- bought compost. Lilacs do well even in average soils, but when you dig the lilac's hole, amend the backfill and the hole with compost. In general, lilacs are low-maintenance, but preparing a healthy planting site will benefit the shrubs in the long run and reward you with more flowers.
- 3). Dig a hole twice the diameter of the root ball and just as deep. Loosen the soil on the sides of the hole so the roots can easily spread out. Set the root ball as deep as it was in the nursery container and water in the backfill until it reaches the same level as the surrounding soil. Young lilacs take three to four years to establish themselves and it will take that long before you see any significant blooms. Once established, they can live for centuries, according to the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University.
- 4). Remove flowers after they fade and before they set seed. This will increase blooms for the following year, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden's Kemper Center for Home Gardening.
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