Here’s Why Your Lilacs Look So Wilted Right Now in Minnesota

If your lilac shrubs are looking a little brown and wilted this year in Minnesota, you're not alone. And we now know what might be causing the problem.

Lilacs are one of the more popular bushes and shrubs found in yards and landscapes across the Land of 10,000 Lakes. And while they're commonly found here now, they're they're not exactly a native Minnesota plant.

The University of Minnesota Extension notes that lilacs are originally native to Eastern Europe and Asia, though this long-lived, spring-blooming shrub has become a favorite here in the Bold North for their fragrant white to pink to deep purple flowers that bloom for 10 to 14 days in the spring.

The University of Minnesota Extension goes onto say that lilacs make excellent hedges, foundation plants, specimen plants, large borders and group plantings. Lilacs also provide a habitat for small birds and pollinating insects.

But if your lilacs look a little sad this year, you're not the only one experiencing this phenomenon. We've noticed the leaves on the lilacs in both our backyard and on the side of our house have started to turn brown and wilt. Some have even started to fall off. And this Reddit thread is full of other Minnesotans whose lilacs are doing the same thing.

So what's going on? According to the Minnesota Horticultural Society, it's likely a result of our extremely wet spring and summer:

Your lilac shrub is (most likely) not dying this summer. However, after weeks of wet weather, browning & crispy leaves *are* a sign that something needs to be addressed this season. Now is a great time to employ proper soil amendments for overly wet soil and targeted leaf disposal to help your shrubs thrive next spring.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)  notes that your lilacs might also be experiencing lilac blight, something extremely common across the Bold North this year. There are several specific types of blight (you can check out the most common types HERE) but none of them should prove to be fatal for your plant, and most will likely recover again next year.

There are a few things the USDA says you can do to help your lilacs recover and prevent blight from coming back next year:

• Cleaning up and removing all leaf debris.
• Many lilacs have not had proper pruning for several years and need some rejuvenation pruning.
• Remove dead wood and volunteer trees and bushes.
• Cut off 1/3 of the largest stems (approximately up to a third of the plant) just above ground level to improve air movement and circulation throughout the bush. This will help in decreasing the spread of the disease.
• Send all plant debris to the city lawn waste pickup. Do not compost them!

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