Yes! Many dwarf fruit trees and container-friendly varieties are perfect for small gardens or patios. Trees in pots can include citrus trees, figs, and dwarf apple trees. Using containers allows you to control soil, water, and temperature more easily, making it possible to grow fruit even in northern climates. These trees are especially useful if you want fast-growing trees that produce fruit within a few years and don’t require a large orchard space.
The climate plays a major role in fruit production. Cold-hardy trees like apples, pears, and plums survive in northern regions, including zone 3, while citrus trees, figs, and peaches thrive in warmer southern areas like Florida or Virginia. Some fruit trees may require protection from frost, while others can tolerate cold winters. Understanding your USDA zone and local conditions ensures your trees will grow healthy and produce fresh fruit consistently.
Many growers offer fruit trees for sale online, including bare root trees, grafted trees, and container-grown trees. Buying fruit trees online allows you to select from a wide range of fruit tree varieties suitable for your climate, including apples, pears, peaches, plums, citrus trees, and more. When purchasing, check for USDA zone compatibility, tree size, and health guarantees to ensure you receive a quality tree that will thrive in your garden.
Raspberries grow best when planted in a sunny garden with well-draining soil. You can start by planting bare-root or potted plants in early spring or late fall. Rows of raspberries should be spaced about 2 to 3 feet apart within a row and 8 feet between rows. Using a trellis or support system helps canes grow upright and promotes healthy berry production.
When planting raspberries, place the crown of the plant 1 or 2 inches above the ground. For bare-root plants, spread the roots in a hole and cover gently with soil. For potted plants, plant at the same depth as they were in the container. Make sure each bush has space to spread so new shoots and suckers can grow without overcrowding. Raspberries are easy to grow, but giving them proper spacing and sunlight ensures your raspberry patch thrives.
Raspberries are perennials, and the first year canes mostly focus on root and cane growth. Summer raspberries (summer-bearing) produce fruit on two-year-old canes, typically in early summer. Fall-bearing raspberries (everbearing) can produce a crop in the fall of the first year, and another in the following summer from the same primocanes. With proper care, a bush can produce fruit in both summer and fall, giving you fresh raspberries for pies, tarts, or eating straight from the garden.
Rudbeckia hirta, the traditional black-eyed Susan, is a biennial or short-lived perennial that often acts like an annual due to self-seeding. Some cultivars like Rudbeckia fulgida are true perennials that return every year.
They typically bloom from early summer to early fall, filling your garden with bright yellow petals and dark black eyes. Regular deadheading encourages continuous flowering throughout the season.
Scatter Rudbeckia hirta seeds directly on the soil surface and press them lightly, as they need light to germinate. Keep the soil moist, and seedlings will appear within 7–21 days.
Yes. You can grow black-eyed Susans in containers indoors or outdoors. Use a regular seed starting mix, ensure proper drainage, and place them in a sunny location for maximum blooms.
If there’s one plant that feels like pure nostalgia, it’s the lilac bush. That sweet fragrance drifting through the air, the big clusters of purple (or pink, white, even yellow) blooms—lilacs just scream "cottage garden charm." Whether you want a beautiful hedge, a statement shrub, or just something to make your yard smell amazing in the spring, lilacs are a fantastic choice.
But, like any plant, lilacs need the right care to thrive. So let’s talk about everything you need to know—planting, watering, pruning, and even what to do if pests try to mess with your fragrant blooms.
Discover the sweetest-smelling blooms that bring beauty *and* heavenly scent to your garden.
Before we jump into the details, let’s cover the basics of what lilacs are and why they’re worth growing.
Lilacs come in many shapes and sizes, from towering tree-like varieties to compact shrubs perfect for small gardens. Here are some of the best lilac varieties, each with its own charm:
The most well-known and traditional lilac, this variety produces large, fragrant clusters of double flowers in shades of purple, pink, or white. It can grow up to 10 feet tall or even 15 feet tall and makes a beautiful hedge or statement lilac shrubs. It blooms in mid to late spring and thrives in cool climates.
If you love lilacs but don’t have much space, this compact lilac cultivar is a perfect choice. It grows only 4 to 5 feet wide and tall, making it great for small gardens or even containers. It has lavender-pink flowers and a lovely scent, blooming a bit later than the common lilac.
This is a later-blooming lilac that produces pale purple to pink flowers with a strong, sweet fragrance. It’s smaller than the common lilac (about 6 to 8 feet tall), making it a good choice for landscapes that need a mid-sized shrub. In fall, its leaves turn a beautiful burgundy color, adding extra interest to your garden.
Unlike other lilacs, this one grows more like a small tree, reaching heights of 20 to 30 feet. Instead of the usual purple flowers, it produces large, creamy white blooms that have a light, honey-like scent. It blooms later in the season (early summer) and is an excellent choice for those who want a lilac but need something more tree-like.
This variety is perfect for those who want lilacs beyond spring! Unlike traditional lilacs, which bloom once a year, the Bloomerang Lilac reblooms in late summer and fall. It stays fairly compact, growing 4 to 5 feet tall, and has classic lavender-purple flowers. If you love lilacs but wish they lasted longer, this is a great option.
Explore the charm of white birch trees—from fun facts to easy care tips for your garden.
Lilacs are best planted in early spring or fall, when the weather is cool but the ground is still workable.
For the best results, plant lilac bushes along a fence line, near a garden border, or as a focal point in a sunny corner of your yard. They make excellent natural privacy screens when planted in a row along property lines. Avoid low-lying areas where water tends to collect, as lilacs prefer well-drained soil.
Lilacs are not houseplants—they need to be planted outdoors in a spot with plenty of sun. They do best with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day, so avoid shady areas.
For the healthiest growth, plant them somewhere with good air circulation. Lilacs hate being crammed into humid, damp spots, which can lead to disease issues.
Whether you're planting a young lilac seedling or a potted lilac, the process is simple. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even try growing lilacs from seeds—though it takes a lot of patience!
Lilacs can be grown from seeds, but they take years to mature and bloom. If you’re up for the challenge, follow these steps:
Honestly? Most gardeners buy young lilac plants instead of growing from seed—it’s just faster and easier! But if you’re patient and love a challenge, starting from seed can be a rewarding experiment.
Once your lilac is in the ground, it’s all about giving it the right conditions to thrive. Luckily, lilacs are pretty low-maintenance, but they do have a few preferences!
Lilacs love well-draining soil—they hate sitting in water! If your soil tends to stay soggy, mix in sand or compost to improve drainage. They prefer a slightly alkaline soil pH (6.5 to 7.5), so if your soil is too acidic, adding a bit of garden lime can help.
Lilacs like deep but infrequent watering. A good soak once a week is usually enough, unless it's hot and dry—then you may need to water a bit more. However, avoid overwatering! Lilacs don’t like “wet feet” (aka waterlogged roots), which can lead to root rot.
Lilacs are cold-weather lovers and thrive in cooler climates, ideally in temperatures between 60°F and 75°F (15°C to 24°C) during the growing season. They require a chilling period of at least 1,000 hours below 45°F (7°C) in winter to bloom properly. They don’t do well in extreme heat or high humidity, so if you live in a warmer zone (zone 8), plant them where they’ll get some afternoon shade to protect them from scorching sun.
Lilacs need sun to bloom well! Aim for at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. If your lilac is planted in too much shade, it might grow just fine, but it won’t produce many flowers—and what’s a lilac bush without those gorgeous blooms?
Lilacs don’t need a lot of fertilizer—in fact, too much nitrogen will give you lots of leaves but fewer flowers (and we definitely want those blooms!).
✔ Use a low-nitrogen fertilizer (like a 5-10-10 or 10-10-10 mix) in early spring before new growth starts.
✔ Or, just add compost around the base for a natural nutrient boost.
✔ Avoid over-fertilizing—lilacs do best with just one light feeding in early spring using a balanced fertilizer, like 10-10-10, at a rate of 1/2 cup per plant.
Pruning is key for shaping your lilac and encouraging new growth. But timing is everything!
✔ Lilacs bloom on old wood, meaning they develop flower buds on the previous season’s growth. That’s why pruning right after flowering is crucial—if you prune too late in the season, you’ll accidentally cut off next year’s flower buds.
✔ Deadheading, or removing spent blooms helps your lilac look tidy and may encourage better blooming the following year.
✔ Cut back older, diseased, or damaged branches (especially thick, woody stems) to encourage fresh growth and more blooms.
✔ Thin out overcrowded areas to improve air circulation and prevent disease.
Tip: If your lilac is old and overgrown, rejuvenation pruning can help! Cut back one-third of the oldest branches each year over three years to refresh the bush without sacrificing all the flowers at once.
Mulch is your lilac’s best friend—it locks in moisture and keeps weeds away.
✔ Spread a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch (wood chips, bark, or straw) around the base of your lilac.
✔ Keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent rot.
Lilacs are not the best container plants since they get pretty big, but dwarf lilac varieties (like ‘Dwarf Korean Lilac’) can work in pots.
✔ Use a large container with good drainage (at least 12–16 inches deep).
✔ Repot every couple of years to refresh the soil and prevent the plant from becoming root-bound.
✔ Place potted lilacs in a sunny spot—they still need at least 6 hours of sunlight daily.
Lilacs are naturally hardy, but a little extra protection won’t hurt in colder zones.
✔ In fall, add a thick layer of mulch (3–4 inches) around the base to insulate the roots.
✔ If your area gets harsh winters, you can wrap young lilacs in burlap for added protection.
Lilac Borers – These tunnel into stems, causing wilting. Cut off infected branches and use insecticidal sprays if needed.
Aphids – These tiny bugs suck sap from the leaves. A strong spray of water or neem oil helps.
Powdery Mildew – A white, powdery fungus on leaves. Improve airflow and use a fungicide if needed.
Bacterial Blight – Causes dark, water-soaked spots. Prune affected areas and avoid overhead watering.
A: No, but they often get confused because of their similar purple blooms and fragrance. Lilacs belong to the olive family (Oleaceae), while lavender is part of the mint family (Lamiaceae).
A: Yes! The easiest way to propagate lilacs is by taking softwood cuttings in early summer or by digging up and transplanting suckers (small shoots growing from the base of an established lilac).
A: Yes, some horticulturists suggest grafted lilacs for stronger root systems and unique flower varieties. However, they’ll also advise on proper care since grafted plants can sometimes be more delicate.
