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Cordylines. Pruning help

Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2019 3:42 pm
by Cameront94
Hi, i’m New to this forum. Apologies if i’m Posting this in the wrong area.

I’ve got a bit of an addiction with Palms in my garden. I live in a costal village in Northumberland & I have about 30 palm trees in my garden including Washington robusta, tracycarpy fortuni, pheonix, sago, cordyline Australis, indivisia & dazzler. (yes I know Cordylines aren’t technicals a palm, but I class them as one).

Anyways on to my question. Obviously when the leaves die you cut them off, (I personally cut them quite regular even before they die as it seems to make them grow quicker) but how do I make them look smooth / with a patterned trunk, I can’t find any videos of how to do this.

For example please see an image of my latest cordyline dazzler. As you can see I bought it with a bit of the trunk allready formed (if you look towards the top of the trunk you can see where i’ve Cut leaves off but it doesn’t look the same).

I hope this makes sense. Also how would I do this with my indivisa (other image attached).

Sorry one more question, i’ve Had my tracycarpy’s for around 3 years & they haven’t really grown much taller, how long do they usually take to grow tall in the uk?

Thanks in advance.

Cordylines. Pruning help

Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2019 4:27 pm
by karl66
Hi, regarding trachys ….im afraid you'll just have to be patient with them,especially from that size,there always better in the open ground.If you continue to cut the cordy leaves close to trunk as seen in your pic the old leaf bases will eventually fall off as the trunk grows. I'm sorry to inform you that you don't have cordyline indivisa!...maybe labelled as such but not so.

Cordylines. Pruning help

Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2019 4:57 pm
by tatter
good advice from Karl and welcome to the forum Cameron .

Cordylines. Pruning help

Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2019 7:11 pm
by Cameront94
Hi Karl, thanks for the advice. Are you sure it’s not an indivisa (the 2nd & third images), I bought that one from Morissons last year & bought two more of the same this year and they both definitely say they are indivisa?

I have seen them be pruned to looking more of a smooth trunk ( there’s ones in my village & every now and then the council prune then & they look very different) any ideas how this is done?

Thanks again.

Cordylines. Pruning help

Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2019 9:40 pm
by charliep
If you wait until the leaves go brown then pull down sharply they come off clean leaving you that pattern on the trunk, by cutting them you will still get that effect but will have to wait until the leaf stumps fall off naturally. And all the pictures are of Cordyline australis

Cordylines. Pruning help

Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2019 10:19 pm
by Cameront94
charliep wrote: Sat Jun 15, 2019 9:40 pm If you wait until the leaves go brown then pull down sharply they come off clean leaving you that pattern on the trunk, by cutting them you will still get that effect but will have to wait until the leaf stumps fall off naturally. And all the pictures are of Cordyline australis
Ahhh, i’ve Just googled images of Cordyline Indivisa & I see what you mean, indivisa have thicker leaves. I can’t believe that Morissons / their suppliers would miss label them two years in a row. Do you know where I can buy indivisa? Thanks for your help.

Cordylines. Pruning help

Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2019 8:07 am
by charliep
I dont know for sure, but Hardy Exotics, Lower Keneggy and Treseders all down here have them from time to time, but I would save your money as you wont be able to grow one, they are all but impossible even in a good place and die for a past time (one of the reasons we were all sure yours wasnt it!)

Cordylines. Pruning help

Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2019 10:58 am
by tatter
There izs a saying dont look at an indivisa or it will die. Meaning its near to impossible to grow in this country .

Cordylines. Pruning help

Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2019 6:17 pm
by Chez2
charliep wrote: Sat Jun 15, 2019 9:40 pm If you wait until the leaves go brown then pull down sharply they come off clean leaving you that pattern on the trunk, by cutting them you will still get that effect but will have to wait until the leaf stumps fall off naturally. And all the pictures are of Cordyline australis
he he, saved me from typing the same.