View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
psimitry
Joined: 22 Sep 2009 Posts: 75 Location: maricopa
|
Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 12:59 am Post subject: That's not a tree! That's a bush with a flagpole! |
|
|
So last august I get the brilliant idea to try my hand at a jacaranda tree. I got it planted and everything seemed to be going well.
Then this year's really nasty frost hit.
I took precautions, I strung up christmas lights in it and covered it with a dark black heavy sheet. All in all, it was pretty well protected from the frost. Apparently not well enough. I lost all foliage from the top of the tree.
Spring came, and I was kicking around whether or not to rip it out, but I did a scrape test, and underneath the bark the tree was still green - still alive at the top (as opposed to my buddy's that was black under the bark half way up).
Here's the problem - foliage did start to return to the tree... but not in the way you might think:
The new "branches" are about 7 feet tall at this point (taller than me at any rate), but there is no growth at the top. Still green under the top though so I dunno. Is there no hope for this tree? Part of me has almost wanted to cut the trunk out of the center and have a nice Jacaranda bush. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
phoenixtropicals Site Admin
Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 1207 Location: Mesa Arizona
|
Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 1:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Looking good actually. I think you can cut the old trunk at this point. Then you'll need decide whether you want a multitrunked tree or a single trunked tree and prune accordingly. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
GermanStar
Joined: 17 Jun 2010 Posts: 117 Location: Fountain Hills, AZ
|
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 7:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I agree, cut the trunk as phoenixtropicals suggested; if not now, in the near future, and let the tree sort itself out. In general, it's never a good idea to trim Jacarandas, so just do this once. Wherever you trim these guys, they tend to sprout unattractive vertical branches, so the fewer of those the better. The bottom line is you need to let the tree sort this out on its own, don't try to shape it. Jacarandas are frequently multi-trunked, so no problem there.
BTW, Jacarandas are generally pretty hardy, you just got caught with a tender young tree in a horrible and unusual winter. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
phoenixtropicals Site Admin
Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 1207 Location: Mesa Arizona
|
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 6:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
German Star is correct. Generally Jacarandas take freezes fairly well. My neighbors mature trees just lost their leaves in the hard freeze, but didn't lose any branches. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
GermanStar
Joined: 17 Jun 2010 Posts: 117 Location: Fountain Hills, AZ
|
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 6:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Mine lost a few top branches, but overall, the tree came back really well. We were down in the teens last Feb. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
psimitry
Joined: 22 Sep 2009 Posts: 75 Location: maricopa
|
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 11:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
So I went to cut away most of the new limbs and the original trunk when I happened to look up and saw tiny bits of new growth FINALLY at the original top of the tree. Would it be better to cut away ALL of the new limbs so that it can concentrate growth on the original trunk? Or should I just stick with the original plan since winter is coming and I have more growth closer to the ground? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
GermanStar
Joined: 17 Jun 2010 Posts: 117 Location: Fountain Hills, AZ
|
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2011 11:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
I would leave it and let the tree sort it out on its own. As stated previously, Jacarandas can get really ugly if trimmed too much. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
umer147
Joined: 22 Oct 2013 Posts: 2
|
Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 9:54 pm Post subject: boby |
|
|
I would leave it and let the tree sort it out on its own. As stated previously, Jacarandas can get really ugly if trimmed too much. _________________ Sign up with pass4-sure.net for getting incredible online EMC and Princeton University. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|