Question
I have a 3 year old tree that is already about 10 feet high. I fertilize it, yet it has not bloomed. Any clue what might be going on?

( By the way, I was a volunteer years ago and we have similar profiles. I used to live in NJ. Now I am 35 miles NW of Chicago. I love the island.  

Answer
Hello Hammybee, so you moved to Chicago?  I have a sister up there.  Too chill for me, different zone, but she loves it.  Very clean up there.  

Lilacs as a rule take some time to get big enough to bloom.  The wood has to be at least two and probably three years old.  When I bought my house, lilacs were the first thing I planted.  Because that wait is YEARS.  Now, after about 10 years, I am finally getting some noticeable blooms.  

I am assuming you have Syringa reticulata.  Blooms in June or July?  

My understanding is that these shrubs need to be placed in a protected location.  They do not like a lot of wind or bitter cold.  When damaged, they may not bloom until they have recovered enough.  

Bitter temperatures may damage the wood that was going to set buds.  Likewise, don't prune old wood -- or you will be waiting even longer to get blooms.

Lilacs need a big place in the sun.  I assume you are giving this a full sun position, same as a rose.  I fertilize my Lilacs as soon as the ground begins to thaw with Superphosphate, to boost the blooms, but I am not sure if this improves the current blooms or future blooms.  

They are little fussier than S. vulgaris, I think, but then they do things S. vulgaris can't do, like grow into trees.  

This shrub received a Cary Award recently (see the Cary Award website (www.caryaward.org/2000_lilac.html) to read enthusiastic praise on this.  

You might also see "About Tree Lilacs" (www.aboutlilacs.com/japanese_lilac_tree.shtml) for some clear advice about these beautiful shrubs.  No home should be without one.