Lilac blight clean up Q - Ask Extension
Hello,
I live in the East Harriet neighborhood of Minneapolis and I have lilacs in the back that have serious blight. Most of the leaves have turne...
Knowledgebase
Lilac blight clean up Q #880868
Asked August 09, 2024, 3:43 PM EDT
Hello,
I live in the East Harriet neighborhood of Minneapolis and I have lilacs in the back that have serious blight. Most of the leaves have turned brown and dropped off. Should I trim back the bushes close to the ground? What should I do with raked up leaves and the trimmed off branches?
Many thanks!
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hi Frances,
Many lilacs are getting bacterial blight this year. This usually doesn't kill the plants. Some even sprout new leaves after dropping all the brown ones.
Here's some helpful web pages:
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/lilac-bacterial-blight
http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/factsheets/lilacbacterialblight.pdf
Both of the links above suggest ways to manage blight, including raking up and disposing of fallen leaves and, when it is dry, pruning to open up the plants and allow better air circulation.
I'd bag the leaves and put them in the garbage. Any branches you can bundle for yard waste collection.
Good luck.
