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Banksia Trunk Dilema
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Posted by cookie_2008 NSW (My Page) on Wed, May 14, 08 at 21:51
| I have a 10-15cm Banksia Spinulosa(Golden candles) it has two branches coming out from the main one, I have been told I should cut one of these branches off to form a main trunk is this correct or not. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Banksia Trunk Dilema
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- Posted by gonow NSW AUST (My Page) on
Sat, May 17, 08 at 5:39
| Spinulosas are naturally branchy. Leave it if you want a natural looking plant if you want to push it into another habit best of luck |
RE: Banksia Trunk Dilema
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Agreed - don't cut the side branches. The bushier the plant is the more it will flower.
wollemia |
RE: Banksia Trunk Dilema
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I'd be doing exactly the opposite, and pinching out the tips quite frequently to encourage the branching, bushy habit. I should think any attempt to make it grow into a single-trunked tree would be doomed to failure. Why not just enjoy its natural shrubby shape.
Trish |
RE: Banksia Trunk Dilema
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| I have quite successfully modified the growth habit of a few species. I have an Acacia pycnantha that I have successfully encouraged to grow with a clear trunk for 1.8m metres. Usually they have branches almost down to ground level. It was a simple matter of cutting off the lower most lateral branches right from when I first planted it as tube stock. Now it is about 4-5m tall and has not produced any lateral branches below the 2 metre mark for at least 2 years. It looks something like a mop top plant, though I do not bother shaping the crown. As long as you a vigilent with your pruning I don't really see why you could not encourage a similar growth habit with a Banksia spinulosa. Although it is more likely to be a case of 2-3 main trunks clear of lateral shoots rather than just one. |
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