Planting a Lilac Bush in October

Question

I have a very young lilac bush (very small with only a few leaves) and was unsure if it was still ok to plant this late into October. I live in Iowa and we haven’t had a hard frost yet but the evenings are in the upper 30’s the day time is in the 60’s. If I plant it now will it survive through the winter with it being such a young plant? Would I be able to keep it in the house in the winter and plant it in the spring?

Answer 1

While it should be ok planted now, spring would probably be a more optimal planting time in your area. If you choose to wait until spring, simply plant your lilac in a suitable container (adequate size and drainage) with well-draining soil and keep it indoors, watering only when the soil is significantly dry (as the tree is dormant now). Here is an article that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/lilac/lilac-care-growing-and-planting-lilac-bush-plants.htm