My lilacs didn't bloom in Minnesota. Was it the cold winter?

[True Grit]

Well there were a few blooms; 4 on 4 well established bushes. Was it just too cold last winter? What can I do to ensure they bloom next year? Thanks!

 

[3forfree]

mine weren't blooming very good either so 2 winters ago I cut out a lot of the bigger limbs, and will do it again next winter, over crowding and old growth makes for less and less flowers. If you thin your bushes only take 1/3 of the large limbs then wait till next winter and do it again taking 1/3. I live in mid michigan and we were cold last winter too, mine bloomed but very few since I cut back, it usually takes couple of years before they bloom nice again. I trim mine in January.

 

[jerryse]

Here is a trick grandma used on our lilacs when I was a kid . Dump old coffee grounds around the base of the lilac even in the center . Got ours blooming in about a year . It was my job to go dump the grounds . Probably nutrition or PH related .

 

[AnotherSusan]

Mine did not bloom in Virginia either. I think we got a cold snap at the wrong time. The bushes were covered with blooms last year.