Lilacs - Ask Extension
My Lilacs appear to have Blight. The info I have read said to burn the affected parts I have cut off , but I don’t have a place to do that. My tow...
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Lilacs #872966
Asked June 13, 2024, 1:50 PM EDT
My Lilacs appear to have Blight. The info I have read said to burn the affected parts I have cut off , but I don’t have a place to do that. My town has compost pickup but I don’t know if putting it there would be just spreading it. What should I do with the pieces I need to cut off?
Genesee County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello,
Diseased plant material can be burned, buried or bagged and put out for the trash. If there are too many branches to put into the trash, it is very likely safe to send them to a large-scale composting facility. Most large municipal compost piles get hot enough to destroy plant pathogens. If you have some contact information for your composting facility, you can give them a call or take a look at their website. Sometimes this information can be found online. (Piles need to reach an internal temperature of 140 degrees F.)
Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.
Ruth
Diseased plant material can be burned, buried or bagged and put out for the trash. If there are too many branches to put into the trash, it is very likely safe to send them to a large-scale composting facility. Most large municipal compost piles get hot enough to destroy plant pathogens. If you have some contact information for your composting facility, you can give them a call or take a look at their website. Sometimes this information can be found online. (Piles need to reach an internal temperature of 140 degrees F.)
Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.
Ruth
