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GardenDan
gardener
Australia
836 Posts |
 Posted - 12/01/2008 : 08:27:23
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I started this post earlier but lost it. My fault I am sure. Apologies if it has duplicated.
I know/think the general guidance for pruning natives is to prune after flowering.
We planted the natives along our driveway sometime in 2005.
Pre natives...
Natives planted...
They did very little for a while and picked up last year only to be damaged during construction of the new house. Construction damage combined with some neglect on my part during construction means they are quite straggly:
I am having trouble with photobucket and cannot uplaod the other photos I took this morning. Perhaps I can add later.
Anyway my questions are: is there any detriment if I gave them a haircut now; other than I would lose the flowers on them at present?
How severe could/should I be?
I will post this and try again for other photos.
Daniel
Happy Gardening
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Edited by - GardenDan on 12/01/2008 08:44:40 |
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GardenDan
gardener
Australia
836 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2008 : 08:41:53
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Here are some more photos...
I probably should be too ashamed to show these but I would like to get them looking nice so I need some help, please...so shame to the side...what should I do?
Daniel
Happy Gardening |
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10809 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2008 : 10:16:43
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Hi Daniel ...I know how busy you have been so understand.. First off I would take those stakes out the plants would not need them now as they have been in the ground for a long time must be close on two years would that be right.. Would you be able to pull the grass up from around the base of each plant a nice circle around would be good.
And then prune them, I prune my Grevillea all the time by cutting off the seed pods and when there is new growth I tip prune them and if I dont have the time I snip them off especially when there is lots of leggy growth they will reward you by getting very bushy.
I would prune 1/3 off then if you think they dont look right well take some more off.. Actually some look as though they could do with more off don't worry if they have flowers on them.
They will shoot new leaves very soon you could even give them a feed of Blood and Bone later when the new growth is bigger or Native food, they are one Native that don't like the normal fertilizers
Good Things Come To Those That Wait ... I am Tired Of Waiting |
Edited by - Mary-Anne on 12/01/2008 10:18:50 |
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GardenDan
gardener
Australia
836 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2008 : 11:03:50
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I took the stakes out of some, particularly those that were laying over. But they just fell down and basically laid on the ground. I wonder if I should take them right back to very little...like 30cm or so high?
Daniel
Happy Gardening |
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10809 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2008 : 11:25:50
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Maybe the smaller ones, anything around one metre tall perhaps just 1/3, you would be the better judge of that as you can see how tall they are, me I am ruthless with the secateurs but I think the garden looks better for it.
Though sometimes a little and often is better..
I have cut a couple of my Callistemons down from three metres to one metre and they have thicken up so well, they were six years old.
Good Things Come To Those That Wait ... I am Tired Of Waiting |
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GardenDan
gardener
Australia
836 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2008 : 11:38:21
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Thanks Sunny. I am on to a plumbing job now - will try to get back to garden later - when it cools a little. Hot and dry here at present...plus a bit steamy. Beautilful! I feel like all the energy has been sapped from me.
Daniel
Happy Gardening |
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10809 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2008 : 11:57:55
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Steamy is right Daniel, and I know that feeling after spraying weeds for three hours this morning my energy has been sapped also. I am spending the rest of day indoors now.
Good Things Come To Those That Wait ... I am Tired Of Waiting |
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GardenDan
gardener
Australia
836 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2008 : 12:20:10
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It does not seem that long ago that I could work all day regardless of the weather. Now I seem to come inside for a drink etc a whole lot more often. Perhaps it is just so I can visit with Kerrie. :) I just made some adjustments to the first flush system on my big water tank. Now I have a tap and a hose connected to it so I can use the water in a watering can to put on plants. :)
Daniel
Happy Gardening |
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10809 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2008 : 13:21:30
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A good idea Our neighbour has put a normal garden tap about one metre up on one of his small tanks probably to do the same thing.
And it gets worse as you get older.. 
Good Things Come To Those That Wait ... I am Tired Of Waiting |
Edited by - Mary-Anne on 12/01/2008 13:22:26 |
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GardenDan
gardener
Australia
836 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2008 : 14:40:40
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Wonderful! I will look forward to that!
Daniel
Happy Gardening |
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Gail
garden sage
Australia
7707 Posts |
Posted - 13/01/2008 : 05:52:36
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Sunny's advice is good Daniel. If they are extra straggly take them back a bit further to healthy growth and remove any broken or damaged bits. The only thing I would add is if the plants fall over when you remove the stakes is put 2 or 3 stakes around the plant (about 20 to 30cm away) and tie the rope around the posts and past the plant, don't tie the actual stem - sort of like a figure of eight around the plant. This allows the plant to move a little while still getting some support. If the plants are tied firmly to a post they won't strenghten up, they need to be able to move a little to get their roots deeper and trunk tougher - sort of like building up their muscles.
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to use it in a fruit salad.
Gail, near Gympie, Qld |
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Pamela
head gardener
Australia
3949 Posts |
Posted - 13/01/2008 : 07:44:49
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| That's good to know re staking - sorry I have no knowledge to add here but I am learning from reading. Interested in the blood and bone Sunny - my grevillias have hardly grown in 3 years - would this help them? |
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GardenDan
gardener
Australia
836 Posts |
Posted - 13/01/2008 : 10:18:35
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I read so much goos stuff; trouble is forgettery is working better than my memory and I do not retain it.
I have just spent a few hours with Sunny...I am amazed at how she keeps so much knowledge in her head.
Daniel
Happy Gardening |
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10809 Posts |
Posted - 13/01/2008 : 11:19:00
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Thank you Daniel..
Pamela.. Sorry to hear you have slow growing Grevillea its probably worth a try as I remember year ago on Gardening Australia Pete said the best fertilizer you can give your Native plants is Blood and Bone and as a all round fertilizer add Potash to it for all the other plants, that would be the way I would go if I could afford it but B&B does not come cheap so I only feed it to my Natives in the spring, and would you believe I dont feed or water my Grevillea at all they only get what comes from the sky as they grow OK here without the extra yet I cannot grow Lily Pilly.
Having said that Pamela with all the rain you have been getting could that be the cause of them not growing much, maybe there is something in the soil they don't like or perhaps they are not endemic to your area where the ones I grow are, and are also Parents to lots the others so as tough as.. The new hybrids of today well some will only grow in tropical climates and some in the temperate what is the name of your ones that are slow growing, perhaps do a search you may find help online. Sorry I cannot help more..
Good Things Come To Those That Wait ... I am Tired Of Waiting |
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GardenDan
gardener
Australia
836 Posts |
Posted - 26/01/2008 : 13:33:50
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OK, one week later and some time to look at pruning. I cut them back even though I felt a bit cruel at time. Hopefully I have not damaged them. They had become very straggly with branches going everywhere.
Look at the cuttings.
Mary-Anne, while it does not quite look it here, I have pulled out the weeds around the base of the natives.
Here is the today shot of this portion of the yard.
Daniel
Happy Gardening |
Edited by - GardenDan on 26/01/2008 13:42:41 |
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10809 Posts |
Posted - 26/01/2008 : 15:13:02
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Good on you Daniel.
Yes you can certainly notice all the work you have done.
Good Things Come To Those That Wait ... I am Tired Of Waiting |
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