How to Plant a Japanese Lilac Tree

In early summer Japanese lilacs (Syringa reticulata) burst into bloom, their creamy white and fragrant flowers forming dense clusters on the treelike bush. Japanese lilacs grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 7. When properly planted and fully established, they require little maintenance to dependably provide ample flowers and lush summer foliage.

Like most lilacs, Japanese lilac can tolerate most soil conditions, but it performs best in well-draining loam with a pH between 6.5 and 7.0. A site that gets full, all-day sun will result in the best flowering and foliage growth. Japanese lilacs can grow up to 30 feet tall and 20 feet wide, so plant them at least 10 feet away from buildings and other large plants and trees. Japanese lilacs are potentially invasive in some areas. They may send up suckers from their spreading roots, which can develop into dense thickets that choke out other plants if you don't keep the suckers trimmed out or contain the roots with a root barrier buried around the lilac bed.

The garden bed doesn't need to be amended before you plant if the soil is naturally rich in organic matter. Tilling the bed to a depth twice that of the roots and three times as wide provides looser soil so the roots can establish more readily. Remove any weeds or grass from the site before tilling. In poorer soil, work in a 2- to 3-inch layer of compost into the tilled soil. Prepare the bed in late winter or late summer for spring- or fall-planted container plants, or in late winter or early spring for field-grown plants.

Before lifting the lilac from its container, dig a planting hole to the same depth as the root ball but twice as wide. Remove the lilac from its pot and check the roots for damage. Prune off dead, damaged or diseased roots before you plant. Disinfect the shears by wiping them with a rubbing alcohol-soaked cloth before cutting. If the lilac is root bound, with roots completely encircling the root ball, slice through the roots in two or three spots with a disinfected knife. Set the Japanese lilac in the hole at the same depth it was growing at before and fill in around the roots with soil. Build up a 2- to 3-inch ring of soil around the edges of the root zone. Fill the ring with water and allow the water to soak into the roots.

Proper care during the first six weeks after planting encourages the lilac to root well. Fill the watering ring every seven to 10 days. After the establishment period Japanese lilacs rarely need watering. Light fertilization four weeks after planting encourages healthy ongoing growth. Apply 2 ounces of an 18-6-2 granular fertilizer over every 4 square feet of garden bed. Spread the fertilizer on top the soil, starting 6 inches from the trunk and out to the edge of the root zone, and then water the ground so the granules dissolve into the soil. A 2-inch layer of mulch helps conserve moisture, and it also insulates the soil against temperature fluctuations if you planted the Japanese lilac in the fall.