Lilac leaves curling after all night water - Ask Extension
Hello, I have a client who was told her lilac was needing water and she watered it overnight until 11am the next day. The tree looks good but the ...
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Lilac leaves curling after all night water #350351
Asked August 05, 2016, 2:33 PM EDT
Hello, I have a client who was told her lilac was needing water and she watered it overnight until 11am the next day. The tree looks good but the leaves are curling. I took 4 leaves off the plant and so no evidence of insects under the microscope.
We have had extreme heat like the rest of the country as well.
Thank you.
Cheboygan County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello,
It sounds like the lilac is reacting to overwatering. It will take some unknown time to return to normal depending on the type of soil and drainage. Clay soils stay wetter longer than sandy soils.
Here is info from James Schuster of Illinois Extension about watering lilacs---
"Frequent shallow watering does not keep woody plants alive in dry, windy and 90+ degree weather. Water till the ground is watered at least nine to twelve inches deep. Do not water again till the ground is dry at least six inches deep. If you used an organic mulch, the number of days between the watering should be longer. Drought and drowning cause the same above ground symptoms."
There may be leaf drop after this 'flooding' event. At this time do not prune or fertilize. Just monitor the soil and do not water until soil is dry at the six inch depth as noted above. The shrub may recover but may take until next spring to do so. Thanks for using our service.
