Pruning Timing for Lilac, Crape Myrtle, and Weigela

A Northern Virginia gardener's lilacs leaf out but don't bloom; crape myrtle and weigela are pruned in spring by a landscape company, resulting in no flowers. Plants are 3–5 years old.

The problem is pruning at the wrong time—removing flower buds before they open.

• Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia): Blooms on new wood (current season's growth). Prune in late winter/early spring before growth starts, or immediately after flowering. Spring pruning removes the shoots that would bear summer flowers.
• Lilac (Syringa): Blooms on old wood (buds formed previous summer). Prune within 2 weeks after flowering. Pruning in fall, winter, or spring removes next year's buds.
• Weigela: Blooms on old wood. Prune immediately after flowering (late spring/early summer). Spring pruning removes flower buds.

Corrective action: Stop spring pruning. Fertilize with slow-release balanced fertilizer in early spring. Water during drought. Lilacs may bloom next spring if buds survive. Crape myrtle and weigela should bloom next year if pruned correctly after this year's flowers.

Communicate timing requirements to the landscape company—or do selective pruning yourself.