Grafting lilacs in spring, summer, autumn: timing, methods, video

Lilacs can be grafted in spring, first of all, by budding on an awakening bud, however, there are other ways. This procedure is used both for propagating cultivated varietal lilacs and for stimulating flowering. The likelihood of a plant taking root or not depends on the nature of the rootstock and the observance of sanitary standards during the vaccination. All tools before starting work should be thoroughly disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Details of the implementation of lilac vaccination in the spring are shown in the video in this article.

Is it possible to plant lilac

Many novice gardeners are not sure whether to plant lilacs, because there are more affordable ways to propagate the plant. Sometimes this is not only possible, but necessary.

The fact is that when grown in adverse conditions, the lilac bush can be greatly weakened. The bush also weakens non-compliance with the norms of agricultural technology on the part of a person. You can restore the plant by applying top dressing, transplanting to a more favorable place (in terms of soil composition) or by grafting lilacs, and you can do both spring and autumn.

What can lilac be planted on

There are not many plants on which lilacs can be grafted. Even fewer of those that can, on the contrary, be grafted onto lilacs.

The following cultures are generally named:

• wild lilac;
• privet;
• ash;
• Rowan.

Sometimes there is information about the grafting of lilacs on maple, however, there is no exact data on the survival rate of the plant.

Is it possible to graft lilac on lilac

Lilacs are successfully grafted onto their relatives. In particular, a nondescript weakened shrub can be turned into a lush shrub with abundant flowering due to varietal grafting. This is done by combining a wild plant and a garden varietal crop, where the latter acts as a rootstock.

The reverse process is also possible. You can graft varietal lilac on wild. The result is a plant with improved winter hardiness, endurance and resistance to diseases and pests.

Finally, you can graft variety on variety. This grafting allows you to get a bush with mixed characteristics of both varieties.

Is it possible to graft lilac on ash, on mountain ash, on privet

Of the other types of plants for grafting, ash is most often chosen – this is a related crop belonging to the same family as lilac, due to which the shoot grafted onto it takes root well.

A completely different situation is observed when trying to graft lilac on privet – this is the most unreliable planting material. The graft does not always take root and rarely a strong plant is obtained from such a combination. In addition, privet is not at all winter-hardy.

It is also not recommended to graft lilacs on mountain ash. The results are rather contradictory, the survival rate is generally average.

What can be grafted onto lilac

In addition to another variety of lilac or a wild species, you can try to plant an olive on a garden bush, however, the survival rate of the plant is average.

There is also an opinion that it is possible to plant an apple or plum tree on a lilac. Gardeners give different answers, however, the correct one is impossible. These cultures belong to different families.

Scion preparation

Lilac scion is prepared as follows:

1. From a bush that is distinguished by especially lush flowering, it is necessary to cut off cuttings with buds that have not yet had time to open.
2. It is believed that the graft takes root best of all, the stalk for which was cut from one-year-old semi-woody shoots.
3. Harvested cuttings are stored in the cellar or refrigerator, but not in the freezer. Before that, they are wrapped in paper.
4. Half an hour before vaccination, it is advisable to lower the cuttings into any growth stimulator.

In order for the procedure to be successful, it is necessary to adhere to a number of rules during the connection of the scion and stock:

1. Cuttings for grafting are cut from proven bushes. The gardener must know which variety he is planting. In addition, it is important that the plant is healthy.
2. Mature annual shoots are best suited as a scion.
3. Shoots cut off from the top of the bush, which receives the most sunlight, take root especially well.
4. It is better to cut the cuttings from the south side of the shrub, because the leaves on it in the axils have well-developed eyes and short internodes.

How to plant a lilac

It is recommended to vaccinate lilacs early in the morning or in the evening, when there is no scorching sun. It is advisable to carry out the procedure in dry, cloudless weather. Increased air humidity lowers the survival rate of the scion.

The cuttings are usually grafted onto the root shoots of the shrub. The procedure is carried out according to the following scheme:

1. In March, as soon as the soil thaws and softens, it is necessary to dig up annual coppice shoots. From them, samples are selected that correspond in thickness to the available cuttings. Among these shoots, preference is given to those that grow away from the bush. Instances with thin and weak roots are rejected.
2. All shoots are cut from the rhizome, but at the same time one strong shoot is left. The light shoots and buds that were underground are also cleaned so that they do not weaken the stock and do not act as “competitors” for grafting.
3. The rhizome of each stock is hidden as quickly as possible in a plastic bag so that it does not dry out, and tied at the root neck with a rope or tape.

Terms of vaccination of lilacs

The timing of grafting lilacs in the spring is determined by the beginning of sap flow, which most often occurs in the last days of March – early April. Outwardly, this is manifested in the fact that the kidneys are filled and increase in size. The grafting is done directly after the start of sap flow, but the cuttings are cut at the end of winter before the buds awaken.

Also, cuttings for grafting lilacs in the spring months can be prepared in the fall.

Preparation of tools and materials

In order to vaccinate, the following materials and tools are needed:

• rootstock – the plant on which the grafting is performed;
• scion – cut annual shoots (cuttings);
• garden shears for cutting cuttings;
• special grafting knife for budding.

Spring grafting of lilacs in different ways

For gardeners without experience in grafting plants, the method according to which lilacs are grafted in the spring through a simple copulation without cutting “tongues” or splits is most suitable. This method will avoid possible damage to the shoots when the branches are split too much.

Grafting by simple copulation implies the following sequence of actions:

1. With the help of garden shears, the stock is cut to a height of 60 cm. The lilac should not be grafted higher – in this case, the stock often forms shoots below the grafting site.
2. The next step is the preparation of oblique cuts of the same size, both on the stock and on the scion. With a budding knife, the stalk is cut obliquely 3-5 mm below the kidneys. The length of the cut should exceed the diameter of the cutting at least 2-3 times.
3. Then the cuts are pressed tightly against each other. It is important to connect the stock and the graft in one movement, it is impossible to rub the slices against each other – this way the graft will not take root due to minor damage to the internal tissues of the shrub.
4. The top of the cutting is cut off, but at least one pair of buds is left on it.
5. After that, the vaccination site is carefully wrapped with polyethylene. The opposite end of the scion is treated with garden pitch so that it does not dry out.

Grafting for the bark done a little differently:

1. The stock is cut off and an incision is made on it in the bark obliquely. The length of the cut should be approximately 3 cm.
2. Then, with the very end of the knife, pry off the edge of the bark and bend it slightly so that the stalk can be inserted.
3. After that, the cutting is cut diagonally and inserted into the cut almost to the stop.
4. The procedure is completed with a garter of the vaccination site. To do this, wrap the knot with a tape, cut off the end of the handle and lubricate the cut with garden pitch.

For more information on how to vaccinate lilacs in spring or summer, see the video below:

Separately, it is worth mentioning the grafting of lilac into a split, which is carried out according to the following scheme:

1. All buds are removed from the rootstock and a cut is made on top.
2. Then, in the middle of the stock, a split is made 3-4 cm deep. The split should be vertical.
3. The lilac scion is cut on both sides so that a wedge with edges of 3 cm is obtained.
4. Then the graft is inserted into the split, after which the junction is wrapped with polyethylene.
5. Complete the procedure by treating all damage with garden pitch.

Lilac care after vaccination

In order for the vaccine to take root, it is necessary to carefully monitor the development of its kidneys. The scion grows together with the stock in about 2 weeks, after which the grafted cutting begins to grow. Unfortunately, this is nothing more than an idealized situation. In practice, young shoots on the scion may appear only in early to mid-summer.

At the end of September, the garter can be removed from the vaccination site, however, if there are strong gusts of wind in the area, this should be delayed a little. In extreme cases, the garter is left until spring, but it is important to ensure that it does not grow into the bark. In addition, it is necessary from time to time to remove all the young shoots that form on the branch just below the grafting site.

Otherwise, care for the grafted lilac is basic – the bush needs to be watered from time to time, fed, insulated for the winter and regularly loosen the area around the trunk circle.

Conclusion

Planting lilacs in the spring is easy, especially with proper preparation. It is enough to familiarize yourself with a couple of videos and take care of the disinfection of inventory so as not to introduce harmful microorganisms into either the stock or the scion. It is even easier to plant lilacs if you skip the step of harvesting cuttings and purchase material from a horticultural nursery.

Caring for a grafted plant is also quite simple and not much different from the base one. The result of vaccination is propagated plantings or more lush flowering. The latter is achieved by giving lilac the features of a plant that is used as a scion or rootstock.

For more information on how to plant lilacs in spring, see the video below: