Trees, Shrubs and Conifers: Lilac Having Trouble Leafing Out, 1 by Clare_CA

Clare_CA wrote:
I have two lilacs, both fairly large and in containers. I am planning to plant both in the ground now that I moved and have some land to plant. One of my lilacs got flowers and leaves in May. The other lilac usually flowers and get leaves a little later, but it didn't do either this year. There is only one cluster of leaves on one of it's stems. I checked the other stems, and they don't seem to be dead as there is green tissue. It's possible that it got too dry and the stems are slowly dying? Should I trim off all the stems that are still bare with the hope that new stems will come up? Since I'll be planting them in the ground today or tommorrow, I can root prune if that is advisable. Here's the sickly one: