Paulownia tomentosa
Re: How to prune
ELAINE HUTSON
1144 0
When you say you are growing it for its foliage, do you mean something like Catalpa or Pawlonia, where you are fitting it in a tropical theme or do you mean the overall look of its foliage. Normally if you are coppicing your tree or shrub you do this Feb. You do this to smoke bush, and the shrubby dogwoods. I myself consider cutting trees to the ground for the sake of fitting a theme sacrilegious.
Posted: Friday 27th of January 2012 07:34 PM
Re: How to prune
Carol
1144 0
Is it not a Pauwlonia tomentosa - the post is in the named forum. I know nothing about them!
Posted: Friday 27th of January 2012 06:00 PM
Re: How to prune
Judi Samuels Garden Design
1144 0
Hi Mark, please don't cut your tree until you know what it is and when you have identified it we will then know what's best for it. As a general rule, deciduous trees (leaves that fall off) can be pruned in the summer / autumn time.. Evergreen trees can be pruned in the spring time.. not applying any hard and fast rules because all plants are grown in different circumstances.. So, how about a photo, if you can and then we could have a go at identifying for you and then be better equipped to suggest a plan for pruning.. If you are growing for foliage makes sense not to cut it down the ground! ;-)
Good luck and best wishes
Judi.. :-)
Good luck and best wishes
Judi.. :-)
Posted: Wednesday 25th of January 2012 12:29 PM
How to prune
mark brock
1144 3
I have a tree that was planted in full sun in a prominent position. It is now in excess of 5 metres high. Should I hard prune it almost to the ground now? Will it kill it? I am growing it for leaf interest. It was a present and so need to hang on to it. I have the space or a bigger tree but want the best for it. Should I or should I not prune it?
Posted: Wednesday 25th of January 2012 11:18 AM
Paulownia how hard to prune?
camilla shivarg
5148 0
Thank you ! Wouldnt it be lovely to have both !
I think the leaves are the important thing here, It is grafted though , so cant cut down that low, will bite the bullet and do it and have some of that food I think, it gets afternoon light which should back light the leaves,
I think the leaves are the important thing here, It is grafted though , so cant cut down that low, will bite the bullet and do it and have some of that food I think, it gets afternoon light which should back light the leaves,
Posted: Tuesday 9th of March 2010 12:54 PM Last reply: Tuesday 9th of March 2010 12:54 PM
pruning a paulonia
Valerie Munro
5148 1
Are you growing your paulownia for its foliage effect, or do you wish to enjoy the flowers? This is an important question to answer, as it will affect the timing of your pruning.
If it is for its luxuriant tropical-like leaves, then hard pruning should be done in early spring (and here the weather has been so awful, it is going to be difficult to predict the best possible time!). The issue is that the stems are hollow, and if hit by cold and wet weather, then they will succumb. Spring pruning involves cutting the stems down to within 5-8cm (2-3in) of ground level in the spring, just before the growth begins.
Paulownias are also better planted in a sunny spot where the wood has a better chance to ripen for flower buds than in a damp shady area.
If you are growing it for flowers, then the best time to prune it is immediately after flowering, so the plant has sufficient time during the summer months to develop new wood and set its flower buds before the dormant period in the winter. The flowers appear before the leaves.
Whichever effect you are aspiring to, you should feed and water the plant well after pruning. This will help it recover from the shock of surgery! I always recommend slow release granules, and the one that I use most is Westland Feed All which has a good potassium input in its NPK ratio. Failing that, Top Rose is another good one!
So the choice is yours - flowers and small leaves, or no flowers and big showy leaves - and prune accordingly!
Good luck
Auntie Planty
If it is for its luxuriant tropical-like leaves, then hard pruning should be done in early spring (and here the weather has been so awful, it is going to be difficult to predict the best possible time!). The issue is that the stems are hollow, and if hit by cold and wet weather, then they will succumb. Spring pruning involves cutting the stems down to within 5-8cm (2-3in) of ground level in the spring, just before the growth begins.
Paulownias are also better planted in a sunny spot where the wood has a better chance to ripen for flower buds than in a damp shady area.
If you are growing it for flowers, then the best time to prune it is immediately after flowering, so the plant has sufficient time during the summer months to develop new wood and set its flower buds before the dormant period in the winter. The flowers appear before the leaves.
Whichever effect you are aspiring to, you should feed and water the plant well after pruning. This will help it recover from the shock of surgery! I always recommend slow release granules, and the one that I use most is Westland Feed All which has a good potassium input in its NPK ratio. Failing that, Top Rose is another good one!
So the choice is yours - flowers and small leaves, or no flowers and big showy leaves - and prune accordingly!
Good luck
Auntie Planty
Posted: Tuesday 9th of March 2010 11:53 AM Last reply: Tuesday 9th of March 2010 11:54 AM
paulownia how hard to prune?
camilla shivarg
5148 0
Thanks for the advice, thing is it already sprouting buds and about 10ft , do I cut back to near soil level like a cornus or cut down by half, and shorten stems, apperently flowers in 3rd year, but not if you hard prune I suppose ?! A dilemma.
Posted: Monday 8th of March 2010 10:55 PM Last reply: Monday 8th of March 2010 10:55 PM
5148 0
Hi Camilla, they will produce shoots if cut back hard, so you should be Ok. Why don't you give us a treat and post some pictures when the leaves come through and get to their full size? I love the flowers too - but you have to choose between those (if you have the patience to wait) and the massive leaves - have one in my garden but it is only a baby, so I am leaving it to do its own thing, guess I'll be long gone before it gets to flowering size! All the best, Marissa
Posted: Monday 8th of March 2010 07:56 PM Last reply: Monday 8th of March 2010 07:56 PM
paulownia how hard to prune?
camilla shivarg
5148 3
Secateurs ready, but nervous , how hard to prune,for big leaves but keeping some height , in a huge pot in London
Posted: Monday 8th of March 2010 03:53 PM Last reply: Wednesday 9th of April 2025 10:27 AM