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paulownia how hard to prune?

paulownia how hard to prune?

Question from camilla shivarg
5143 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

  • Paulownia tomentosa

    Marissa Zoppellini
    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
    Replied: Monday 8th of March 2010 07:56 PM

  • paulownia how hard to prune?

    camilla shivarg
    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.
    Replied: Monday 8th of March 2010 10:55 PM

  • pruning a paulonia

    Valerie Munro
    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
    Replied: Tuesday 9th of March 2010 11:53 AM

    • Paulownia how hard to prune?

      camilla shivarg
      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,
      Replied: Tuesday 9th of March 2010 12:54 PM
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