Kitchen Garden Forum

I know this is probably not the right place for this question - but I am having trouble finding it!
Anyway, a lilac tree of quite a good age blew down earlier this week & we have dug a large hole, added rotted manure & replanted it in a different place. As the roots were severed at about 30cm depth, does anyone out there think it will survive at all?
Should I be cutting the new growth back in order to give the roots a chance? It seems such a shame as it is completely covered in buds about to burst forth with blossom.
We have tethered it in 3 directions to give it some stability should the strong winds return.
Any advice gratefully received.

I'm not really a tree expert but your lilac is bound to suffer a certain amount of shock and trauma from the root severence and replanting, and pruning it back may help reduce any more moisture loss. It's a pity to lose much of the blossom this year but if it helps the tree to survive it's probably worth a short-term sacrifice. All you can do is ensure it's kept well watered in the meantime.

Be careful if it is a fancy one as it could well be grafted and the damage might make it sucker.

Thanks for your advice Primrose & Geoff - I am going to give it a trim & hope for the best. Its not a fancy one - just very old.

just for info, there is a lilac on one edge of my lottie that was very overgrown and cast shadow. Anyway last year I "trimmed" it and being short of pea sticks cut suitable pieces off and burnt the rest, these sticks were chucked in a pile and left over winter and used for my peas. Most of them produced roots and buds!!
Perhaps they are tougher than we sometimes give credit for.