Question: Why don’t my lilacs grow better? They were my favorite shrubs when we lived in the Midwest.

Answer: They are far better suited to colder climates. When you cross the Red River, you quickly begin to see lilacs in distress. By the time you pass south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex you can pretty well kiss them good-bye entirely. Our problem is that lilacs can’t handle our high summer temperatures. They run out of gas just coping with the heat.