Saving a Lilac from Herbicide Damage: Propagation by Cuttings

If herbicide drift (like Tordon) has damaged your prized lilac, taking cuttings is the best way to preserve its genetics. Here's a reliable protocol.

Assess the Parent Plant

If the main bush shows severe dieback, distorted leaves, or no recovery after a month, it may not survive. But healthy-looking shoots can still root.

Cutting Protocol (Softwood, Late Spring)

1. Select 6–8 inch shoots from current season's growth—flexible but not floppy.
2. Cut just below a node; remove lower ⅔ of leaves.
3. Dip base in rooting hormone (IBA powder or gel).
4. Insert 1–2 inches into moist 1:1 peat:perlite or sand.
5. Cover with clear plastic (bag or dome) for humidity.
6. Place in bright indirect light (east window or under lights).
7. Check at 2 weeks: gentle tug = resistance means roots.
8. Gradually remove cover over 3–5 days; keep moist.
9. Pot up when roots are 1 inch long; grow on in partial shade.

Key Tips

• Take multiple cuttings—success rates vary.
• Use clean tools; sterilize with alcohol.
• Morning cuttings root best (higher turgor).
• Don't let plastic touch leaves—causes rot.

Herbicide Note

Tordon (picloram) persists in soil and moves in plants. If the mother plant was directly sprayed, cuttings may carry residue. But if only drift occurred, cuttings from unaffected growth should be clean.

This method works for common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) and most cultivars. Your grandmother's legacy can live on.