Pruning Strappy Leaf Plants – Part 2

Pruning Strappy Leaf Plants – Part 2

Even with this selection of extremely low maintenance plants, it’s inevitable that some pruning will be needed. These tips give some often eye catching pruning techniques that will keep your landscape from looking hacked at.

BABY BLISS® Dianella revoluta ‘DTN03’ PBR

An excellent garden or mass planting choice for low blue foliage. Works well all over Australia, but avoid using in depressed areas that get extra wet. It does well in dry situations. Further south where humidity is lower, it can work in depressed spots as long as they are not permanently wet.

• Mass spring flowers

• Vivid blue foliage

• Tough little plant

• Very frost tolerant

• Non invasive

CARE

Prune back every 2 to 3 years. Cut back to half way on mass planting areas. For gardens older leaves can be removed if that is preferable. For a more vivid blue colour use 8 to 12 months slow release fertiliser.

FLAMIN’® Phormium tenax ‘PHOS3’ PBR

A vibrant and midsized Phormium.

• More vibrant colour than other single colour Phormiums

• Mid sized

• Tougher than other purperea types

• Grows as well as green Phormiums

CARE

In gardens remove older leaves if ever needed. On roadsides, prune after 4 to 5 years if it gets too high for line of sight reasons or if it needs rejuvenating. It works well with out fertiliser, but will look more vibrant if 8 to 12 month slow release fertiliser is used.

SWEET MIST® Phormium tenax ‘PHOS2’ PBR

The richest colour and most dense, compact Phormium in Australia.

• Small

• Rich colour

• Stronger grower than Elfin

CARE

For gardens, if Sweet Mist ever gets discoloured foliage simply pull out dry looking bits. For mass planting like roadsides, the new foliage will after a period grow over the older looking foliage, so pruning should only be needed after 5 to 7 years. For a richer colour fertilise with an 8 to 12 month slow release fertiliser.

Click here for a whole lot more of these pruning tips…

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Best Way To Prune Strappy Leaf Plants – Plant Pruning Tips

The Best Way To Prune Strappy Leaf Plants

By Todd Layt

Even with this selection of extremely low maintenance plants, it’s inevitable that some pruning will be needed. These tips give some often eye catching pruning techniques that will keep your landscape from looking hacked at.

Cassa Blue® Dianella caerulea ‘DBB03’ PBR

It performs extremely well in less humid regions.

• Blue foliage
• Very low seed set, so a safe environmental choice
• Mass flowering
• Excellent drought, frost and cold tolerance
• Good salt spray tolerance

CARE
Prune back half way every 3 to 5 years or alternatively, pull out older leaves. Performs better with 8 to 12 slow release fertiliser every 2 years.

Tanika® Lomandra longifolia ‘LM300’ PBR

Tanika is one of the most reliable and best landscape plants for all over

Australia (excluding alpine regions and high humidity areas).

• Sterile

• Evergreen winter and drought

• No irrigation needed

• Trim each 4 to 7 years

• One of the most reliable and best landscape plants for Australia

• Low fertiliser requirements

CARE

Trim in to a ball shape if needed, usually about half way and preferably trim every 3 to 7 years. Tanika ® Lomandra will live and prosper without pruning for more than a decade, but will look better with pruning after 3 to 7 years. If you’re in a high profile area, use slow release fertiliser every 1 to 2 years; 8 to 12 month preferably.

Tanika ® Lomandra will survive and prosper for more than a decade without fertiliser, but will look more dark green with fertiliser. Fertilising yearly will result in pruning being required after about 3 to 4 years. Thus if it is on a high profile site, use fertiliser, if a roadside, fertilise at time of planting only.

COLD

With fertiliser Tanika ® Lomandra usually stays evergreen down to -8 to -10°c. Has survived in the past down to -12°c. Avoid use in regions that have many days below -8°c in a row (eg alpine regions).

Tasred® Dianella tasmanica ‘TR20’ PBR

Performs well in many conditions in Perth, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, ACT and in NSW.

• Nice flowers and berries

• Has been grown with no known reseeding issues

• In colder parts it gets winter red growth on foliage

• Wide leaf looks like a compact wide leaf Phormium, but with really nice flowers

CARE

Prune back half way when needed each 3 to 7 years. It is more important to have a sharp implement for wider leaf plants. Sharp shears work well. Fertilise with 8 to 12 month slow release fertiliser if darker green foliage is desired.

Little Jess™ Dianella caerulea ‘DCMP01’ PBR

Little Jess is a great compact low maintenance plant for humid areas, and moderately cold areas.

• Mass purple flowers

• Compact

• Architectural shape

• Drought and moderately frost tolerant

• Non invasive

CARE

Prune every 2 to 3 years in gardens, and every 4 to 6 years on roadsides. Trim to half height. Avoid pruning in winter if possible. Slow release fertiliser is recommended for gardens every couple of years. Roadsides generally do OK without it, but for a darker foliage colour apply as for the garden.

Click here for a whole lot more of these pruning tips…