Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Thinning older wood
All shrubs are multi-stemmed and do need
their canopy to be renewed over time. Once
plants are established and are at a point
where the foliage and flowering growth is not
as abundant as it is in a new shrub, it is time
to assess the stems/trunks. Look at the base
of your plant. It is easy to discern between the
old stems and the newer when you look at the
differing colours of wood on the plant and
the differing stem thicknesses. The thicker
the stem, the older the wood. Older dark or
crusty textured wood is a sign of age with a
consequent lack of vigour. This is the wood
that should be removed to maintain the
shrubs maximum flowering capacity (see
Figure 4.4).
Figure 4.5 Remove older stems on this Phlomis to
encourage strong basal growth.
In Figure 4.5, the Phlomis is showing new
basal growth. It can be capitalised on by
removing older stems.
This theory applies to all shrubs whether the
stems originate from the base or from a short
trunk. Maintaining younger wood will
promote a more vigorous plant
(see Figure 4.6).
Figure 4.4 This Spirea is in need of renewing. The dark
stems are those that are oldest. Simply remove these from
the base. Thin, weak stems can be removed also.
Figure 4.6 In quick-growing species, shorten back lanky
stems to an actively growing bud or strong side shoot.
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