CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The blooming of the lilac bush means spring has arrived. The sweetly scented shrubs can live for centuries, and they thrive without much care or attention. Many of us remember them as part of our childhood visits to grandma's house -- and those bushes probably are beautiful today.

There's a little country cemetery near our house with a huge lilac bush right in the center. I don't think anyone has tended to it for years, and it continues to bloom nearly every spring.

The story of the lilac, according to Greek mythology, begins with a beautiful nymph named Syringa (lilac's botanical name). Captivated by her beauty, Pan, the god of the forests and fields, chased Syringa through the forest. Frightened by Pan's affections, Syringa escaped him by turning herself into an aromatic bush -- the flower we now refer to as lilac.

Highland Park in Rochester, N.Y., is called the Lilac Capital of the World, and holds an annual Lilac Festival. This year's event is May 14-23 (www.lilacfestival.com). George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew them in their gardens.

Lilacs grow best in full sun and well-drained soil, and they take two to three years to establish themselves in a new site. Soil pH may affect the plant's growth -- they like slightly acid to alkaline soil.

For abundant flowering, cut off all spent blossoms each year and prune the flowering stem back to a set of leaves to prevent seeds forming. This puts all of the energy into next year's flowers, not the seeds. A bad flowering year might follow a good one if you don't do this.

Many lilacs can reach heights of 30 feet without regular pruning. To control legginess, remove about one-third of the oldest stems at ground level using clippers each year for three years. This encourages the growth of strong new stems from the base. Cut away shoots growing near the ground that may be sprouting from the main trunk. To improve air circulation or to allow more light to filter through, trimming lilacs within the inner branches may be necessary.

If lilac bushes are already too large, pruning the entire bush or tree to about 6 or 8 inches off the ground may be necessary. Keep in mind that you will have to wait for flowers to return, as it takes about three years for them to develop once the entire shrub has been cut.

If you are pruning lilac trees or shrubs to within inches of the ground, do it in early spring. New shoots will develop during the regular growing season as long as there are a few healthy shoots left.

Lilacs don't need to be fertilized. However, fertilizing in early spring may help give blooms a boost, provided there is not too much nitrogen, which will result in insufficient flowering. Use an all-purpose fertilizer such as a 10-10-10, watered in well. And tough as lilacs are, they need supplemental water during periods of drought.

Spring or fall is the best time to plant lilac bushes. If planting more than one lilac bush, space them at least 5 feet apart to prevent overcrowding, even if you plan to use them as a privacy hedge.

Lilac bushes are occasionally bothered by insect pests, such as borers. Watch for signs of pest problems and treat immediately. Spraying with soapy water may be sufficient, but if heavy infestations occur, pruning the entire plant may be necessary for lilac tree care and health.

The unrelated chinaberry (Melia azedarach) and mock-oranges (Philadelphus) are sometimes called "lilac," too.

To bring lilacs into the house, be sure to cut the branches in the morning with pruning shears and plunge them immediately into air-temperature water.

For your vase water, combine 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon bleach, 2 teaspoons citrus juice and 1 quart lukewarm water. Cut stems at 45-degree angles and make two 1-inch crossing splits from the base to facilitate water uptake. Keep the vase out of direct sunlight, and re-cut any limp stems.

Don't tie daffodil leaves

You can't be a neat freak and like daffodils -- because you should never, I repeat, never cut or tie off the leaves of daffodils after they finish their bloom. If you do, you'll reduce the leaf surface area and thereby the energy the bulb receives to produce next spring's flowers.

Interplant the bulbs with another, slow-to-emerge perennial so the new plants come in as the daffodils turn brown.

Reach Sara Busse at sara.bu...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1249.