The best time to fertilise is early in the spring, the plant will then have the fertiliser when it requires it most. If planted in a pot on a patio, you will need to add fertiliser annually due to the limited buffer accommodated by a pot. If planted in the garden, you will usually not be required to add fertiliser.
Tip 4
What fertilizer
What fertilizer
should I use?
Good to know
Fertilise early in spring
Components
Nitrogen, phosphate and potassium
The three primary building blocks for a plant are Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K). A number of trace elements are also required for a healthy plant. Most compound fertilisers and composts contain the above elements in sufficient quantities. Lilacs naturally grow in chalky soils with an acidic value (pH) of 5.5 to 7. If your soil pH value is lower, we recommend you fertilise each year by mixing a chalky fertiliser to the top layer. If a lilac has a lot (too much) nitrogen it will grow luxuriously but not feel the need to reproduce and the plant will develop limited flowers for seed production. Temper the use of nitrogen and the lilac will flower more abundantly.
Tip
If your plant is wilting away in a pot, make sure you add new, fresh soil and ask your garden centre for slow working fertilisers (preferably organic) with relatively high-levels of phosphorous and potassium, but low levels of nitrogen. The fertiliser must further contain all the required trace elements.
