Lilacs make a great shelterbelt

By Joan Janzen

Farmers and property owners are always looking for a shelterbelt for privacy and protection. The Prairie Shelterbelt Program and Garden at USask both recommend the Common Lilac as a good choice.

Photo courtesy USask

The plant adapts well to a variety of soils, including moderately alkaline soil, and is extremely drought tolerant. The large shrubs grow to an average size of 10 or 12 feet, require full sun, and have no known pest or disease problems.

Property owners who create a shelterbelt for privacy purposes are advised to consider planting three rows of trees and shrubs. The first row would generally include an evergreen, the middle row would be a fast-growing deciduous such as poplar or willow, and the most popular choice for the third row is the lilac.

The lilac shrub is one of the few options for hedges and shelterbelts surrounding a garden or yard. It has beautiful blossoms and grows 12 feet high. The more sun the lilac shrub receives, the more flowers it will produce.

The deep purple flower is not only ornamental but very fragrant. It has many edible uses, including lilac lemonade, lilac jelly, lilac syrup, lilac sugar, lilac honey, and cocktail garnish. The shrub produces flowers once a year.

People who planted a lilac shelterbelt a decade ago are now enjoying big, beautiful flowers and a hardy, disease-free hedge.