need a pic

This was in focus when I pushed the button....

Anyhow, it looks rather better today than it did yesterday. That's good, right.

About half the branches look like these; a few leaves are developing. The other half look long dead. Will this be enough to save it?

Bear in mind that my neighbors' lilacs have been fully leafed out for a couple weeks.

Last year mine was like theirs.

In general Lilacs are pretty tough plants, so I wouldn't give up on them for at least a year since even if the top is killed they may grow back from the roots.

I'd look around the base of the plant for damaged or stripped bark. Is this plant in a lower spot than the rest of the neighborhood?

can we see a pic of the whole plant ... how much full sun does it get ... is the lawn sprayed with anything???

even if the top parts are harmed in some way .. if there is no insult to the root mass.. do not be surprised if in late summer.. you see all kinds of new shoots coming from down below ...

ken

Full sun most of the day, lawn was not sprayed with anything. The grass was removed with a spade 4 years ago. Last winter was mild, but the ones before that were nasty. But all the lilacs on the street had the same winters and they are fine.