never heard of a L needing any kind of chemicals .. [they dont even need treatment for PM]

and i wonder if you are doing more damage slathering on remedies ... than good ...

its a recent transplant.. that has not gotten fully established.. probably still suffering transplant shock [yes only one of the 3 for whatever reason]

and you may be loving it to death trying to save it ...

how about.. for august.. you get rid of the grass... properly mulch it.. and get it properly watered ... dig a small hole and find out if it needs more a less water ...

i have slipped from too much rain to near drought in the last two weeks just over the MI border ... dont let your presumptions about long past rain.. cloud your future ...

ken

BTW: do you have that famous OH clay ... and did you amend the planting hole??? .. were the plants severely pot bound .. etc ..

We do have some clay in the yard, but not over where these are. My other 4 lilacs (different types) have always done very well here in the soil etc.

They were not significantly root bound at all when I got them.

I make sure they've been getting water lately and up until just a few days ago, they were getting downpours every other day for weeks.