posted
I have a large cluster of bird of paradise alongside the house that need some serious pruning. They are starting to become invasive into the lawn, and the leaves are starting to brown. What is the proper way to prune them so they will stay healthy and continue blooming?
Jen in Florida
Plants: 3 | From: Boca Raton, FL | Registered: Nov 2005
| Seeded: 69.165.253.66
posted
you can divide mostly year round where your at.I think they always recomended in the spring.They also respond well to pruneing.it will go through a growth spurt.I think your browning may be too much water or not draining fast enough.You've had a wet year this year also. you can dig them and seperate them,its easy to tell by the roots growth& if your beds drainage was a problem could raise the bed or add some gravel 3-4 inches below their roots.
I have 2 in a pot,the larger pot I added some foam peanuts.I was getting brown stems and some leaves.mine seem to always look ratty,they only look good when I forget about um,plus our summers really roast them here.I useually ground them in the summer,but left potted this year(which was good...cause where it useually grounds....a tree landed durring Rita..so was a blessing)Mine are from seed 3 years now?maybe 4,but about that& hopeing for blooms.
* * * * I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!
posted
Thanx for the tips on bird of paradise. I will have to investigate the drainage issue. It seems to me that they are just getting lost in their own growth and the growth of nearby shrubs. Do they like to be pretty dry? If I separate them, I might have enough to be able to remove a nearby shrub that isn't adding much to the landscape. That would be cool.
Jen in Florida
Plants: 3 | From: Boca Raton, FL | Registered: Nov 2005
| Seeded: 69.165.253.66
posted
they also list as a desert landscape plant so guess they can tolerate dryness.when you divide them they'll have a growth spurt so will fill in the spot if you remove the shrub.good luck,least the weather scooler now.
* * * * I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!
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