Question From: S. Hawthorne - INDIANA
Q: I have a lilac bush near the house - it's shaded for a lot of the day. It gets mildewy quickly. and the leaves get fuzzy and pale looking. Whats the best thing to do for this? I raked away all the old leaves and got rid of them. I tried a spray I got from ACE Hardware, but you have to spray it every day and it's a mess. It didn't seem to really help much.
A:
Lilacs are sun lovers. Yours will never be happy where you planted it. I would replace it with shrub that can live in the shade. You may try a hydrangea paniculata or Hydrangea arborescens. There are many varieties available. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy.
Comment: Thanks Nancy, but I didn't plant it. We bought the house last April and it was already established there. It does get some afternoon sun and it blooms and smells great, I read on an organic site that spraying with 9 parts water and 1 part milk will take care of it. Ever hear of that?
Response:
Susan, That is old time recipe that folks used to use and swore by. Worth a try, but I don't think it will make up for the lack of sun. Please let us know of your success. Best Nancy
